My bioprinter journey

[mRNA]

I'm a stem cell biologist diving into 3D printing, building a Prusa i3 MK3s to convert into an open-source bioprinter. Should I fully assemble and test it with plastic first, or skip straight to the bioprint mods?

 

[BioMich]

That's a super exciting project! Welcome to the world of bioprinting!
You should absolutely assemble and test the Prusa i3 MK3S with plastic first.
This isn't just about printing a few test cubes.
It's about learning the machine's mechanics, calibrating the bed, and ensuring everything works perfectly out of the box.
You'll thank yourself later when you're not trying to troubleshoot a hardware issue while also dialing in your new bioprinting mods and bio-inks.
It's much easier to isolate problems when you're starting from a known, functional baseline.
Good luck, and keep us posted!