Original Prusa Core One 3D printer review

The Original Prusa Core One is a new, fully enclosed CoreXY 3D printer that breaks away from the company’s usual open-framed Cartesian bed-slinger design. This iconic design has been at the core of Prusa’s 3D printers and ethos since the start, while CoreXY is something relatively new. CoreXY was, of course, the foundation for the superb multi-tool-changing Prusa XL. However, that machine is designed for professional use, with a size and scale that makes it slightly prohibitive for many enthusiasts and small business users. The CORE One aims to bring all the speed and functionality of the MK4S and XL into a newly developed and redesigned machine—heralding the next era of 3D printing.

I’m lucky enough to be one of the first people to get my hands on this machine, and I have to say, from the outset, I’m impressed – this is just about the best 3D printer you can get right now. It took less than 10 minutes to unbox, power on, and start printing. It’s extremely fast and straightforward. As the first few prints sprang off the print bed, it was apparent that while we are in the midst of a new wave of 3D printers—moving from Cartesian to CoreXY and from single to multifilament systems—this machine was following that trend but also offering something altogether different. Behind the scenes, it feels like this is the machine that all others are following, even though those other machines are already on the market.

I say this because many of the big players, such as Creality and Anycubic, are now utilising the power of PrusaSlicer.

As I progressed with the testing of the machine with a variety of materials, from PETG to ASA and the ever-popular PLA, it was clear that the machine adapted the temperature-controlled chamber perfectly to suit each material. The vent at the top of the machine and the two fans at the back enable the machine to control the conditions for whichever material was going through the system, and for PLA, that control meant that the front door could stay shut.

Running through all the test prints, both those supplied by Prusa and my usual test models, the printer showed absolute consistency in quality. The superb surface finish, in some cases, meant that prints were close to the quality you’d expect from a resin printer.

As the main testing drew to a close, it became apparent that this machine has been built to last and will definitely suit design studios and anyone involved in product design who needs a fast, accurate machine to test different iterations of product design or small run manufacture. It’s also an ideal solution for education due to its near-indestructible design, which has been built to be robust but also enables a full strip down and rebuild if anything goes wrong. Likewise, for 3D printing enthusiasts—the market where Prusa first thrived—the CORE One is far more refined than its previous filament printers while still enabling you to access its inner workings and adapt it to your needs.

When it comes to 3D printing and this new wave of 3D printers, while the CORE One is by no means a cheap machine, it is definitely the most flexible, expandable, customisable, and, in the future, upgradable machine currently on the market. So, while the initial investment might be higher than some of the competition, in the long term, this is the best 3D printer investment you can make.

Original PRUSA CORE One: Price and Availability

The Original PRUSA CORE One is available directly through the prusa3d website by clicking here.

Using the above link will give TechRadar Pro readers a 10% discount until the 28th of February and then 5% after that date.

CORE One Assembled $ 1199
CORE One Kit $ 949

Original PRUSA CORE One: Design

It’s worth pointing out that this is a Prusa machine, and a core part of the company’s ethos is that you should always be able to upgrade from one machine in its line-up to the next and repairable. This is once again the case with the CORE One, as there will be an upgrade kit available from the MK4S to this latest machine, which is quite impressive considering the MK4S is a Cartesian design and the CORE One is CoreXY. There are obvious exceptions to this upgrade route, such as the Prusa Mini, Prusa SL1S, and Prusa XL, which are completely different types of machines.

The upgrade kit will cost £406.80, and from my experience with both machines, I have to say that moving from the MK4S Cartesian design to the CoreXY design of the CORE One for that price is definitely worth it.

One of the biggest features of the new CORE One design is that it is fully enclosed and ready to print in less than 10 minutes. It took me about eight minutes to unpack, plug it in, and run the calibration before getting the first test print started. The new CoreXY design means that the build plate lowers during the print process while the X and Y axes remain stationary. This results in a smaller overall footprint compared to the MK4S, making it 20% more space-efficient—especially useful if space is limited or if you’re running a print farm.

In terms of physical dimensions, it measures 415 × 444 × 555 mm and weighs a hefty 22.5 kg. However, as I’ve come to learn, heavier machines help to minimise vibrations and ultimately improve print quality, even if they are a little more difficult to manoeuvre around a workshop or studio.

A major advantage of this new design is the filament carrier, which is flush with the side of the printer in a large cavity. This cavity is mirrored on the other side of the machine, enabling it to be adapted to hold additional plates or other accessories.

What’s more, while the footprint might be smaller than the MK4S, you actually get a larger print area, with the CORE One offering a print area of 250 × 220 × 270 mm, with layer heights selectable from 0.05 to 0.30 mm. Like the MK4S, the CORE One remains incredibly intuitive to use through the 3.5-inch graphic 65k colour screen. This offers both a manual dial for navigation or you have the option to switch to a touchscreen interface, depending on preference.

One of the most popular aspects of Prusa machines is the ability to upgrade, adapt, and customise them to suit specific workflows. While the Prusa CORE One looks far more refined than the open-frame designs of its previous 3D printers, there are still plenty of upgrade options. It supports the MMU3 for multifilament printing and includes a new GPIO expansion board, enabling the integration of accessories such as active LEDs, wired DSLR camera triggers, and more.

The two big design features of the Core One are, first, that it is a CoreXY machine, and second, that it comes in a fully enclosed frame. This enclosure includes solid steel profiles, ensuring rigidity. At the same time, Prusa has chosen a durable polymer for the door and sides instead of glass, stating that this material is stronger and safer than the glass alternatives used in many premium 3D printers. Another point is that the XY gantry is made of steel rather than a mix of steel and aluminium to ensure that there’s no difference caused by thermal expansion. A feature of the design is that the door opens a full 180°, providing easy access. What’s more, you can flip the position of the door so that it can switch from opening left-to-right to right-to-left, enabling you to adjust it based on your workspace layout.

When looking at the CORE One’s print head, it looks very similar to the one that features on the MK4S, primarily due to the cooling system, which offers the same 360° airflow. As a result, it once again features a high-flow nozzle capable of keeping up with the printer’s high-speed demands.

The design of the CORE One is entirely new and highlights a shift in Prusa’s approach to 3D printer design that we first saw in the XL. For a mainstream printer, this is a significant departure from the iconic framed bed-slinger design that made the company’s name. However, this is a clear evolution, and it meets the expectations of many users with the fully enclosed CoreXY design and multifilament compatibility.

Original PRUSA CORE One: Features

When it comes to features, as you can imagine, the CORE One is absolutely packed, starting with that fully enclosed CoreXY design with a 180° door that offers next-generation technology that we’re starting to see emerge across all manufacturers in the 3D printing community.

Prusa Research has been at the forefront of many developments. Sure enough, whilst this new machine takes on much of the new technology and design that we’re becoming accustomed to, many of those features have migrated through from the MK4S, including the superb extruder with its orbit design and 360° cooling that enables it to print up to 75° overhangs.

The thing about Prusa is that the MK4S was already fast, especially with that upgrade to the S model in 2024, but now, with the CoreXY kinematics, the high-flow nozzle, the input shaper, and a host of factory-tuned print profiles, this machine is far faster than any of it’s predecessors.

The physical design of the Prusa CORE One takes a huge step forward and, compared to the MK4S, takes up 20% less space, which is increased to a huge 50% less if the MK4S is sat inside an enclosure. What’s more, not only does it take up less physical space, but it can also produce prints that are a good 30% larger as previously covered, making it an ideal choice for print farms or anyone who just wants to save workspace.

Even with many of the fully enclosed 3D printers out there, material compatibility can still be an issue, with many manufacturers suggesting you open the door for materials such as PLA. Here, the Core One has been designed with a fan system that will enable you to print the likes of PLA with the door closed and just a small vent on top open. With the door shut, you’ll be able to print with specialist materials such as ABS, PC, PA, nylons, and many other advanced materials without having to worry about warping.

One of the big features of the new Core One is the ultra-strong steel skeleton that ensures rigidity for high-speed printing and will help cut vibration. What’s nice to see here is that, like many of the other product-design 3D printers that are emerging, the Prusa Core One remains accessible, so if something does go wrong, then a screwdriver is pretty much all you need to swap out and replace parts if something does wear out or fail.

Of course, alongside the printer, you also have the support of the huge Prusa community, and as such, you have Printables.com, which supplies you with plenty of different models. You have PrusaSlicer, which is being adapted by a huge variety of 3D print manufacturers, and Prusa Connect, which finally makes connecting your Prusa machine to your computer wirelessly nice and simple. There’s also PrusaLink, so you can operate the machine through your browser, bringing it pretty much up in line with many other 3D printers on the market.

However, there are a few specialist features that really separate the CORE One from all other 3D printers, from the fact that you can completely disassemble and reassemble the printer down to the last screw, meaning that it’s always maintainable and upgradable to the speed and print accuracy.

Something that I do find really interesting especially in a time where everyone is worried about security, is the fact that Prusa has taken the approach that if you want to have, and keep, this printer offline, then you can, with everything from loading the models to updating the firmware being possible over a USB stick without it ever needing to access the internet.

As you’d expect from Prusa, plenty of upgrade options are available, and the design of the enclosure is already lending itself to this, with the cavity on either side of the machine—one that holds the filament and the other, which can be adapted to hold the build plate or other tools. People have already started to make designs that are available on Printables.com.

There’s also a range of Prusa extras, including the chamber camera, which I have in this review. It simply magnetises to the top of the enclosure and connects to a USB cable to get started. Once in place, it can then be picked up by either PrusaSlicer or the Prusa app—it’s extremely easy. Likewise, there is the new GPIO hacker board – which I haven’t looked at as yet. This small board wires directly into the control board and enables you to control and receive input from external devices using the GPIO pins and G-code commands. This essentially enables you to expand on the CORE One so that it suits whatever need you have for the machine.

Then there’s also the advanced filtration system, which should be available shortly. This can be plugged into the back of the machine over those dual fans to help catch particulates and reduce odour when you’re using materials such as ABS or ASA.

When it comes to the feature set, whilst this machine is an ideal option for anyone who wants a 3D printer, realistically, it is aimed at high-end enthusiasts and professionals who just need a machine that is going to be ultra-reliable and maintainable and will also work perfectly as part of a larger print farm. Everything about this machine has been refined, and if there’s any recommendation about how high-quality this machine is, then the fact that Prusa Research is already using these machines to produce its 3D printers should act as testament to the quality of the output.

Original PRUSA CORE One: Performance

Having tested multiple Prusa machines over the years, I know just how good they can be, and I also know how much the community likes to get involved in modelling, optimising, and customising the workings and design. Now that there is a CoreXY machine, which is more refined and product-designed than any machine that has come before it—other than maybe the SL1 resin machines, it did at first make me think that the design might restrict the community input, and how it might be modified and adapted to fit specific uses and needs.

However, after unboxing the machine and setting it up, which took a little less than 10 minutes, it’s very obvious that, like the other Prusa machines, this is ultimately a great machine from the out set but also a very adaptable machine. The fact that Prusa Research is also releasing the GPIO hacker board and compatibility with the MMU3 multifilament adapter means that out of the box, there’s already plenty of expansion options. Furthermore, if you have an MK4S and you want to convert that to the CORE One, then the upgrade kit is exceptionally cheap, all things considered.

The actual setup process is exceptionally easy, with the machine being lifted out of the cardboard box, upended, and then, after the LCD is installed and the optional camera, it can be plugged in and switched on. From there, you simply feed in the filament, go through the calibration process, and within no time, the first print is loaded and being produced. Unlike printers from a few years ago, the setup and calibration process is all handled by the printer itself, so aside from a quick touch of the nozzle through the calibration process, there is very little for you to get involved with. I have to say, these new CoreXY fully enclose machines all seem to be exceptionally easy to set up.

For the first print, I let the printer handle everything and utilised some of the test prints that were stored on the USB key that came with the printer. Instantly, I was impressed with the speed and precision of the first layer that was laid down on the build plate. You instantly see the precision and perfection of that first layer. Sure enough, when the print finished—which was the large 3D Benchy Lighthouse—everything looked and was running well. My first impression of this initial print was firstly how large it was considering the size of the printer, and secondly, the smooth quality of the outer surface.

I then switched over filaments, again sticking with PLA, and ran a few more tests. Once again, there was no issue at all with the quality of the prints and absolutely no need for any adjustment to any of the print settings. You can tell that Prusa Research has put in the groundwork to create profiles that work perfectly with both the filament and the machine. I’m now used to PrusaSlicer, under many different guises adapted for different manufacturers’ machines, so it’s nice here to see the full PrusaSlicer with all of the options laid out. It’s still a little bit technical when it comes to the UX design compared with the simplified approach that some of the other manufacturers have taken, but even for someone just getting started, it’s still easy enough to navigate, especially when you’re only using a single filament.

Adjusting and swapping through the settings was all easy enough, and for all of the test prints, the actual print quality was exceptionally high, with the Autodesk Kickstarter test model being the second in as many weeks to come off with a 100% perfect score.

Needless to say, the original Prusa MK4S was superb, and if you compare the CORE One against this machine. The MK4S was already one of the best that I’ve ever seen—there is a marked increase in print quality. If you look closely at the prints, there isn’t really any visual difference in quality, and while there was a step up in the test model score, if you look at it visually, prints from the MK4S and CORE One essentially look the same.

Where the two machines really differentiate is with the speed of printing. The Core One takes speed up another level. I’d have to say the only issue is that while the MK4S sits very silently in the corner, printing at a relatively decent speed, the CORE One increases that speed significantly, but it also increases the volume. While it’s still not an overly loud printer, it is considerably louder than the MK4S, which I’ve become accustomed to seeing but not hearing in the corner.

Print quality is one thing, but the need for maintenance by non 3D print geeks is another area that many 3D printer manufacturers are only just getting the hang of. This is something that Prusa has nailed down for years, and maintenance of the CORE One remains superb. Especially if you’re using this in a professional capacity.

Prusa is still one of the only companies to have a dedicated support hotline. If you bought your printer through Prusa, then if something goes wrong, you can simply call or send a support request, and the company will respond. While I’ve never really had to contact them for an issue, I have tested the support out of curiosity, and the response has always been exceptionally good. From friends who use Prusa machines professionally, I know that this support line has been a lifeline for their businesses in the past.

When it comes to maintenance, notably swapping out a nozzle for a larger or smaller diameter, this is quick and easy, a long way from the time-consuming process of changing nozzles a few years ago. Now, to swap out a nozzle for a replacement or change, it just takes a few minutes and shouldn’t be beyond the scope of anyone.

So, when it comes to print quality, the Original Prusa CORE One is a step up from the MK4S, and when you compare it against much of the competition—from Creality, Anycubic and Bambu Lab who are offering CoreXY enclosed machines—the Core One absolutely competes.

There are a few questions that I pitched to the PRUSA team during the review – such as does it support AI? – Yes, and that feature is accessable through PRUSAConnect. The point here is that prints just don’t fail that often, so is the point of AI fault detection only used on printers with a high fail rate. Then I asked about speed – most manufacturers like to highlight the speed of their printers, however, you’ll notice that PRUSA don’t state a speed for the CORE One. The reason is that there are just too many variables and in the tests that I ran with the Bambu Lab Carbon X1, Creality K1C and AnyCubic S1 the CORE One’s speed to print the 3DBenchy model was minutes ahead of the compitition.

The thing is, the CORE One compares well with the compitition, although it’s more expensive than most, with only the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon being in the same price range. While the AMS system used by Bambu Lab is hard to beat, and I haven’t yet been able to test the MMU3 with the CORE One, more importatly when it comes to single-filament printing, the X1 Carbon finally has a rival in both quality and speed.

Original PRUSA CORE One: Final verdict

The Original Prusa CORE One is an outstanding 3D printer, and whilst it might not be the first fully enclosed CoreXY machine on the market or even the most refined-looking when it comes to aesthetic product design, it’s by far the most advanced and functional printer of this type on the market at present. What Prusa has done is create a machine that meets the needs of the end users—from business to education to enthusiasts—and gives you all the tools and features needed for many years of successful and reliable 3D printing.

The machine itself is simple to set up, use, and maintain, and every single part can be changed or replaced as needed. What’s more, the 3D print community around the Prusa machines is so large and extensive that if you ever have an issue or you’re not sure how to do something, there is bound to be someone out there who will give you the answer. If not, you always have Prusa Support to fall back on, which makes this an absolutely perfect machine for anyone needing a 3D printer for professional use.

Whilst on the surface, the CORE One looks like many of the other fully enclosed CoreXY machines that offer a multifilament module to expand functionality, at its heart, the Prusa Core One is actually far more. It takes what many of the other 3D printers of this type offer and gives them all a professional and refined twist. For example, whilst many machines offer multi-material support, Prusa has taken that extra step—not only do they offer multifilament material support, but they also ensure that all the profiles within PrusaSlicer are optimised to provide the best possible print quality.

What that means in real terms is those profiles not only adjust the temperature and speed of the extruder, but also the temperature of the environment the filament is printed in. No other printer at present is able to do this with such accuracy.

Then there is PrusaSlicer itself—a testament to just how good this is, as most other manufacturers have now started to adopt it as their main slicing platform. Here, with a machine designed with PrusaSlicer at its core, you can see just how integrated the system is and how well it works, whether you’re using a single machine or multiple.

Whilst the print process, print quality, and build of the machine are absolutely exceptional, there are a few small areas where you can’t help but think the Core One still has room for development.

The first of these is with the filament delivery. A huge plus point here is the fact that the design of the enclosure includes a recess where the filament reel can be placed on the side, meaning it no longer sits proud of the machine and feels like a more integrated part. However, at present, the filament is still open to the environment in which the printer is operating. It wouldn’t be too hard to create an enclosed dryer box around this cavity to ensure the filament is in prime condition before it even enters the print system. There is a filament box in the works, so this should hopefully emerge relatively soon.

Likewise, sticking with the filaments, the MMU3 is an exceptionally good multifilament solution, but it is by no means as refined as what we’ve seen from Creality, Anycubic, and especially Bambu Lab. It would be nice to see something a little more user-friendly, and dare I say it, more refined for use with the CORE One.

Another feature we are seeing from most other manufacturers is automatic filament recognition, and it’s a shame that this isn’t included as part of the base model. However, with the GPIO hacker board, all of these things are possible and should be easy enough to upgrade if you really do require them.

The Original Prusa CORE One is the best 3D printer that I’ve looked at so far. It is expensive when you consider what else is out there on the market at present, but it is a solid investment. If you are looking to use a printer professionally, then this has to be the best option out there. Being from Prusa, you know that it will never go out of date and that there will always be an upgrade or maintenance process to follow—something that few other machines are able to offer.

Should you buy the Original PRUSA CORE One?

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