Can't print with textured sheet
Greetings,
New to 3D printing, as well as this Mini+ in general. Just bought it, it's all brand new. At first I tried the textured bed, no matter what, couldn't get it to stick, even at -2.00mm. Switched plates and it worked perfectly on the flat sheet but I had to go all the way down to -2.00mm to get it to stick, but it was absolutely perfect like that. Discovered the pinda was too high from the factory, so raised it up a bit so now I can print perfectly on the flat sheet at something higher, I forget but I think it was about -0.7 or something. Anyways, on the textured sheet now, I thought I had it perfect at -1.1mm. Started printing the nut and got almost to the very end, I was watching it, and suddenly it broke loose at the bottom and the print failed. I have no problems with the flat sheet but this textured one that is supposedly better it just doesn't stick. It's brand new. I wipe it thoroughly between each print with 91% IPA.
While Z calibrating this textured plate, -0.9mm is too high, and it peels up. But I got almost to the end of the nut at -1.1mm. So I just tried another print at -1.05mm thinking maybe it was digging too hard into the nut and broke it loose, but -1.05mm peeled up and print failed right away.
The plate looks perfectly clean, it's had nothing on it but Z axis tests and the one nut. I scrubbed it pretty thoroughly with IPA. I really don't understand how this plate can be so good, while I find it impossible to print on. Should I just give up and use the flat one? Or is this really worth it trying to get the print to stick to the textured one?
Thanks,
Rob
Best Answer by abacabie:
I think most use the smooth sheet for PLA and the textured for PETG, but if your bed is clean its all about calibrating the offset, i have found it easier to use a 75mm x 75mm square to set the first layer, it gives you more time to get things just right.
correction
Correction: The pinda was too low from factory and I had to raise it slightly. Also, all settings are default, and the filament used is just the PLA that came with it as a sample. Although now I'm trying with Prusament orange.
Can't print with textured sheet
I think most use the smooth sheet for PLA and the textured for PETG, but if your bed is clean its all about calibrating the offset, i have found it easier to use a 75mm x 75mm square to set the first layer, it gives you more time to get things just right.
I never managed to get PLA to stick to my textured sheet properly (but wasted many hours trying). I have zero adhesion problems using smooth for PLA and textured for PETG. I clean up with IPA between prints and use IPA plus dish soap and hot water after 5-10 prints (or before starting any print that is likely to benefit from extra adhesion).
Thanks!
Thanks all. I will just stick with the smooth sheet for PLA since it's working perfectly. I'll try the textured again when I do some PTEG stuff. 🙂
I can say that I use the textured sheet quite regularly with PLA and have since I got the sheet (well over a year ago) and had excellent results and very few issues getting PLA to stick.
On this forum, maybe in the summer of 2020 or so, there were reports and anecdotes indicating that:
1. There were some 'good' and some 'bad' textured sheets, as in some which worked as expected all/most of the time, and some which were problematic in getting prints to stick.
2. At least some of the sheets could be improved by, for the lack of a better term, 'seasoning', as would be done to a new skillet or griddle, by printing on it, as the 'stiction' improves with use.
My sheet has the code 'WA15' in the upper right corner, and is obviously one of the 'good' ones.
The one issue that seems to recur, WRT getting good prints on the textured sheet, is that a separate Z calibration has to be done for the textured sheet, and that the Z factor for that calibration is always more negative than it would be for the stock smooth sheet.
Another thing I've noted is that the Z calibration appears to be more critical for the textured sheet than for the smooth sheet. It really needs to be 'dialed in' closely to get consistently good prints on the textured sheet. I'm in the habit of 'tuning' the Z on the textured sheet right to the point that those 'brush strokes' just disappear into the textured pattern when viewed from the bottom.
Another thing I almost always do with the textured sheet, for any filament, and more so for ABS and PLA and those which tend to stick too well is apply a thin coat of Layerneer. I know I've taken some $#!+ here for recommending this product, but in reality, it really helps to get things to stick, particularly PLA on the textured sheet, and also as a release agent to prevent the coating of the sheet coming off when the print is removed. This goes on much thinner than glue stick, so it does not leave any visible marks on the bottom side of the print.
I think the true 'acid test' of getting something to stick is PLA on the textured sheet with supports with small footprints. When you can do that without the support footings curling up, you have things down pat.
PLA
I also use the textured sheet with no issues with PLA. You must get your Z offset perfectly. It will not be the same between the two sheets.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog