Spring Steel Sheet suggestion  

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

I have one build plate where I know which side I am using, 

it's made by a company called Energetic,   is available on Ali Express,  it is Gold coloured so easily distinguishable from other build plates and is textured on one side and smooth on the other... 
🙂 

regards Joan

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

Posted by: @reddtoric

Although it could mean 2 separate printing templates depending on how it's made, I think it would be a good idea if you guys had A/B or 1/2 printed on each side of the steel sheet. Sometimes I'm cleaning the sheet and I flip it a few times and lose track which side I want to use to balance the usage between the 2 sides.

Not a bad idea, but in the meantime: I followed a suggestion by a user here to put a strip of blue painter's tape on my sheet to record the last Live-Z offset used. Sharpie pen erases nicely with isopropyl alcohol so it's easy to update. It serves the additional purpose of identifying each side.

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

@joantabb

Awhile back I floated the idea of a smooth/rough plate (see https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/general-discussion-announcements-and-releases/the-best-idea-ive-had-today/ ). At that time, the ability to select different plate configurations had not yet been implemented, although I believe it was in the works. I tried making my own by covering one side of a textured plate with Kapton tape. This worked to a degree, and I am still using that plate. The Kapton side is starting to develop some bubbles at higher plate temperatures (ABS/PETG/etc.), but are easily burnished flat with a smoothing tool. I may redo that side adding a high-temp spray-on adhesive to assist the tape's own adhesive. That said, I was not able, as I had hoped, to find one Z axis first layer height that works consistently for both sides. Typically, the textured side requires a lower Z setting. To that issue, now that the firmware provides for multiple plate "profiles", I tried creating different profiles for each side. While these are useful as starting points, there are still enough variables affecting first layer adhesion, primarily what type of filament, but to a lesser degree, room temperature, air currents and the "mood" of the printer (yes, they all have their own "personalities"), that adjustment of the Z setting is almost a per-print necessity. Because of all of these variables, the likelihood of a universal/set-it-and-forget-it, all plates/all filaments/all environments first-layer Z setting is unlikely, at least in Prusa price-point machines.

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

Way back when the original textured sheets were unicorns and months away from release, several of us were experimenting with alternatives. I did some experimentation with using textured vinyl and other surfaces on a spring steel sheet. For a while, I had a sheet with different vinyl textures on each side. It actually worked very well, and the vinyl textures were similar enough that not a lot of adjustment was needed between them.

I'm surprised somebody hasn't started marketing textured PEI stickers as an alternative to the -- apparently troublesome to produce -- powder-coated sheets.

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

@joantabb

Energetic is not a bad surface.  

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

@cwbullet

I don't think Joan was implying it was. How close to Prusa's textured sheet is it? Any pics?

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

Same shape, similar thickness,
smooth side is similar to Prusa smooth, but has a gold colour
Textured side has a shaper texture to the Prusa sheets, and is also gold. 

this is the textured side  the actual build plate does not have red text on it!

regards Joan

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

I recommend a couple of sheets that are made in the US and Canada also.  The Ultistik by FilamentOne comes for the Mk3s and Mini.  It is also a gold textured PEI.  I have found it to be pretty close to equal to the Prusa TXT Plates.  

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

Just be aware that not all textured sheets are powder-coated. This FYSETC sheet gave out during sustained printing early last year.

In fairness, the prints did hold and I muddled through. The finish was not impressive.

RE: Spring Steel Sheet suggestion

@bobstro

I have to agree with FYSETC - it will not hold up to PETG or ABS.