PEI Bed Surface
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 5:56 pm
Since no one has mentioned it (at least not that I can find), I thought to start a topic on PEI print bed surface.
I've been using PEI virtually the entire time I've had the M2, and I simply wouldn't go back to bare glass, tape, glue stick or anything else.
I'm using a 0.06 thick piece of PEI laminated onto a piece of Boro glass with 3M 486MP tape. I used 2 inch wide tape, as it makes application a bit easier. I laminated the 12x12 piece of PEI onto Boro, then used an exacto knife to carefully trim it -- run the knife along the PEI a bunch of times until it's almost all the way through and then carefully snap.
If you get the bed leveled out -- I'm not sure you can beat it for adhesion.
So far, I've printed PLA -- perfect at about 55-60C bed temp, smaller prints in the middle I can get away with 50, for a print using 30+% of the bed, go to 55, for 50% or more go to 60. Anything above that is diminishing results as it makes the print harder to remove and is not necessary. I've printed large objects, using virtually the entire bed with no warping, or peeling or any adhesion problems at all.
ABS -- I've settled on 95C -- again, smaller prints in the middle can get away with 90 or maybe 85, but with ABS it's much easier, go at 95, and then wait for the bed to cool and the print just sorta falls of the bed with a light push.
PETG works super well, I've used 50C and have really excellent adhesion, no problems.
If I print ABS, after the print I clean the BORO with acetone, then 99% isopropyl. For anything else just isopropyl is enough.
I've sanded my PEI with 1000 grit sand paper a few times to get the shine out of the prints and to make the adhesion a bit more uniform. For a piece of the thickness I have, it will take a good long while for me to need a replacement.
Other tricks is a can of compressed air, works really well to spray a bit on the bed near the edges of the print when I'm in a hurry and can't wait for the bed to cool down on it's own.
I haven't tried any flexible stuff yet, that's next -- my understanding is that it adheres to well and the option there is to simply flip the bed boro side up, alternatively is to use some oil on the PEI to help it release, not sure yet.
If anyone is interested or has tried PEI. I'm curious to know your experience.
I've been using PEI virtually the entire time I've had the M2, and I simply wouldn't go back to bare glass, tape, glue stick or anything else.
I'm using a 0.06 thick piece of PEI laminated onto a piece of Boro glass with 3M 486MP tape. I used 2 inch wide tape, as it makes application a bit easier. I laminated the 12x12 piece of PEI onto Boro, then used an exacto knife to carefully trim it -- run the knife along the PEI a bunch of times until it's almost all the way through and then carefully snap.
If you get the bed leveled out -- I'm not sure you can beat it for adhesion.
So far, I've printed PLA -- perfect at about 55-60C bed temp, smaller prints in the middle I can get away with 50, for a print using 30+% of the bed, go to 55, for 50% or more go to 60. Anything above that is diminishing results as it makes the print harder to remove and is not necessary. I've printed large objects, using virtually the entire bed with no warping, or peeling or any adhesion problems at all.
ABS -- I've settled on 95C -- again, smaller prints in the middle can get away with 90 or maybe 85, but with ABS it's much easier, go at 95, and then wait for the bed to cool and the print just sorta falls of the bed with a light push.
PETG works super well, I've used 50C and have really excellent adhesion, no problems.
If I print ABS, after the print I clean the BORO with acetone, then 99% isopropyl. For anything else just isopropyl is enough.
I've sanded my PEI with 1000 grit sand paper a few times to get the shine out of the prints and to make the adhesion a bit more uniform. For a piece of the thickness I have, it will take a good long while for me to need a replacement.
Other tricks is a can of compressed air, works really well to spray a bit on the bed near the edges of the print when I'm in a hurry and can't wait for the bed to cool down on it's own.
I haven't tried any flexible stuff yet, that's next -- my understanding is that it adheres to well and the option there is to simply flip the bed boro side up, alternatively is to use some oil on the PEI to help it release, not sure yet.
If anyone is interested or has tried PEI. I'm curious to know your experience.