beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
There isn't any warning about damaging the steel plate but mine is ruined on one side. CS said to look at a link in 'help' or watch Youtube but that is too late. I didn't go looking for a solution when I didn't know I had a problem.
Even PET gets a comment about it being sticky in the print book but still no tips or suggestion as how to avoid problems for Flex.
So, save yourself some aggravation and do some research to figure out how to avoid problems. Suggest you buy a sleeve or have a plan as you buy the filament.
This cost me a steel plate but I know now to do more investigating before I try out another material.
FYI- talcum powder on the plate worked but it is dust floating in the air. Easy to clean.
The glue smeared onto the plate (that came with the kit) worked a bit better. I little more to clean up but that is probably the better solution for me. Happy now and spare plate in reserve on the way.
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
Well, to be fair Prusa does warn you about that... The word "warning" is even all caps, bold, and red. They don't mention talc (that is more of a community hack, not sure where @joantabb first picked that up), but they do mention glue stick.
Heatbed: Make sure the surface is clean, as described in 6.3.2 Flexible steel sheet
surface preparation chapter. WARNING: Some very soft materials can adhere very
strongly to the smooth PEI sheet and require the use of a glue stick as a
separator to avoid damaging the PEI surface. This is not necessary with the textured
powder-coated PEI.
This is from section "12.4 Flex" (page 59 in the English translation) of the Handbook that should have come with your printer, and the latest version is available to download on the same page where firmware and software updates are downloaded: https://www.prusa3d.com/drivers/
Check out that handbook if you haven't already. Chapter 12 is all about different filament types.
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
Maybe steel sheet is not ruined yet, you have other side, plus with a lot of elbow grease it is possible to remove PEI sticker and apply a new one. Even different surface altogether.
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
Please forgive me. This was my fault. I should have continued reading before trying out a new filament.
I will do more research in the future before I buy any more filament. Thank you for explaining.
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
@27tj288
That's part of learning experience.
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
For everybody who forgot using some kind of separator. Flex prints can be easily removed by pouring IPA on the bed. Then carefully remove the object letting IPA release it from the bed.
Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
@nikolai-r
Does this work with PETG too?
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
For everybody who forgot using some kind of separator. Flex prints can be easily removed by pouring IPA on the bed. Then carefully remove the object letting IPA release it from the bed.
This is exactly what I do, But I use 100% IPA in a spray bottle. It acts like a release agent, magic really.
Just an FYI, If you have a large area of flex to remove off a PEI stickered build plate start at one end and spray a little IPA underneath it and watch it seperate from the build plate like magic. The trick is to let it penetrate for a minute before you begin to remove your print.
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
@crawlerin
No, this applies to FLEX material only.
Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
I print TPU directly on my PET print bed on the regular. The trick is to use isopropyl alcohol 99% as a release agent, and just let it seep under the print as you slowly lift it off the bed. This way I get really nice bottom layers on my print and don't have to mess around with tape or chemicals that can also damage the bed or the printer in other ways.
I've only had issue with objects that are hard to grip and have a lot of area touching the bed, however I was still able to remove them without damaging the bed.
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
You can also clean the bed with acethone to remove flex left-overs.
RE: beginners- beware of flex material sticking to plate
There's a learning curve regarding getting a 'feel' of what to do to help make prints stick, and to help make prints release properly.
I ruined one side of the original sheet of my printer by getting impatient in removing an ABS print with a larger footprint using a metal implement. I tore off a few sections of the PEI coating. Had I let the plate and print cool off a bit and/or used a release agent, that could have been prevented. Although I had 3d printed for some time, that was my first experience with that sheet and I learned the hard way.