Prusa Research has announced second-generation upgrades across its core 3D printer lineup, including the large-format XL, Core One, and Core One L, designating the revised models with a “+” suffix.
Engineering the Plus Line: Hardware Revisions for the XL and Core
Prusa Research is adjusting its manufacturing tier without inflating hardware prices. Mikolaj Zuza, Head of Content at Prusa Research, explained the company’s philosophy in an official blog post: “If there’s one thing worth knowing about how we develop our printers, it’s this: we don’t expect you to replace a working machine just because we’ve come up with something new. Most tech becomes obsolete over time. Our printers keep getting better.” While the bedslinging MK4S has reached the end of its upgrade trajectory, it remains fully supported by the manufacturer.
For the flagship Prusa XL, this transition marks the first major overhaul since its 2023 debut. The toolchanger architecture is receiving the 360-degree cooling system originally engineered for the MK4S. Furthermore, the cumbersome pin-tapping routine for toolhead alignment is being replaced by the INDX’s Tool Offset Sensor. This eddy-current sensor operates twenty times faster and secures permanently to the chassis. It is also compatible with the Silicone toolhead previewed during Prusa Day last October, which launches this fall.
Additional engineering modifications across the upgraded hardware ecosystem include:
- GT1.5 Belts: Integrated on the XL+ and the Core One series to enhance surface area precision and belt tension handling.
- Nozzle Wipers: Added as standard equipment across all three machines, addressing one of the community’s most frequently requested mechanical mods without requiring custom slicer G-code hacking.
- High-Flow Nozzles: Now shipping standard on new XL units.
- Enclosure & Thermal Upgrades: The optional XL enclosure features upgraded chamber heating and tight seals, while the Core One+ receives improved heatbed mounting and snap-on top panels shared with the Core One L.
Unlocking Engineering Polymers with the HT Hotend
To push past standard PLA and PETG limitations, Prusa Research is introducing an optional HT Hotend for the CORE One series, available for pre-order at $199.99 with a September release window. Rated up to 400°C, this swappable hotend targets brittle, high-temperature engineering filaments like PEKK-CF and PPS-CF that require elevated melting thresholds.
Simultaneously, the software stack is undergoing a parallel rewrite. Prusa Slicer 3.0, teased late last year, is slated for release in the coming weeks. Local network connectivity is also modernizing through Prusa Connect Local, an architecture designed to supersede the older PrusaLink interface and streamline LAN management for secure, offline print farms.
The 30-Second Verdict
Upgrades arrive directly on the webstore in September, securing backward compatibility for users invested in the XL, Core One, and Core One L ecosystems.
