Bed becoming unlevel after just 1 or 2 prints

[3dPrintingMD]

The glass is not perfectly flat. One thing you can try as a test is flip the glass over. If the problem is now inverted, then your glass is the issue.

As jimc noted, many people are using different print surfaces essentially in response to this.

Currently I am using an Aluminum MIC6 plate for PETG and a Zebra Plate for PLA.

[Pekish79]

for my parts with Zebraplate I got use to level the bed every day sometimes more then once especially with large print where i used to bent the zebra

i got so familiar with the screw and direction of the screw that i can usually level it in 5-10 minutes (it toke me couple of month printing almost everyday of the week)

i started using the dial indicator now i use it only when i totally change type of plate i own 4 different type of plate a steal plate one glass+pei one zebra and one zebra+pei

after 3 month i reached the conclusion that glass+pei if done well is the best on of the 4 and the one i use more often, zebra is good too but need to be leveled more often

I would love to see if i can find that PEI 2300 30% glass fiber filled to see if it works without glass and doens't bent
http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-x-16-x-16-Na ... SwDk5T6lvQ
I have no clue how well can be cutted as this one is a little bit thicker then you would want it to be .25 (i would prefer a .125)

Rip Rap suggest
"You can also find PEI labeled as Ultem from suppliers such as McMaster-Carr: the 0.040" variety is suitable for printing."

http://www.mcmaster.com/#pei/=10kd8m5
the 12"x12" x0.04 cost 20 dollar and they suggest it to glue on the glass with 12" square of 468MP adhesive:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/e ... ND/2649265

Overall my advice is learn to level quickly and the only way is doing it often first time may take 30 min or so but the more you do it the faster you get you just need to understand and get use to it

[ryaneb85]

Jim,

I see you have supplied MIC6 plates to others in the past. Is this something you still do? I am in Singapore and it's very difficult to get hold of "specialist" stuff like that over here, and if you can, it will cost you an arm and a leg. If you still do this, I would be very interested in splashing a few pennies for one.

I did order a zebra plate in the hope that it would give me better adhesion without all need for glue etc., and in the hope that it would be inherently flatter than my glass plate and alleviate all of my woes. However, from reading a few posts on here it seems it will actually be less level than the glass. The saving grace is that it will allow me to take advantage auto-leveling with the inductive probe. Hopefully the combination of the two will be better than the glass alone. If not, then I'll definitely be in the market to upgrade to a MIC6 plate.

Out of curiosity I'll have to try flipping the glass one day to see if the situation reverses. I think it's about time i also invested in a dial gauge too to make sure my idea of level is actually level!

Where are most of you guys based - the US? I've been in a few print shops here in Asia and it seems not many have heard of the M2, and even less own one! Flashforge seems to be the usual weapon of choice. Filament is also approx. $80/kg

[jimc]

Man i thought singapore was the manufacturing capital of the world. You would think you could find anything there and it would be dirt cheap. Ill send you a pm.

[ryaneb85]

From what I can tell Singapore manufacturers NOTHING. Everything is imported, even meat, fruit and vegetables, and then marked up astronomically. I saw a desk fan in the local hardware store for nearly 500 bucks, and the exact same thing on Amazon for 50. Don't even get me started on dog food...

[jimc]

Wow