Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
I am new to 3D printing and LOVING it. I purchased the two steel beds. The powder-coated sheet absolutely can not work for me. The molten plastic does not stick to it all and just balls up on the nozzle! It has to stick a little! What am i missing? I am using PLA and PETG.
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
PLA has issues with the PC sheet; many have found a good cleaning with dish soap and hot water helps. Scrub well using a fresh paper towel (no dish sponges or dish rags) then well rinsed in hot water, and dried with fresh paper towels (unscented, untreated variety), and baked out on the heat bed for 30 minutes at 80c to drive any moisture out of the substrate to prevent rusting.
PETG generally sticks well. Perhaps other users will chime in with their experiences.
And - your first layer is important. With PLA you need the layer to be squished so it fills the texture.
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
I may give this a shot myself. I haven't been able to get anything to stick to it. I *Finally* got PLA to stick to the regular smooth sheets, after lots of cleaning with 91% alcohol.
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
Do what Tim said first. IPA is no substitute for a good initial wash with Dawn, scrub and dry.
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
Make sure you dry the Textured sheet well, heat it up on the printer to make sure all traces of moisture are gone, the gaps between the texture can lead right down to bare metal and corrosion could start from within. I think this is why PRUSA now say not to wash the textured sheet, but as long as you dry it off properly, it should be OK, and only use it for PETG, use the smooth PEI for PLA.
Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
Gotcha. I think the issue is the same as with the regular steel sheets I got. Fingerprints or some kind of residue of some sort. I had pretty much decided to try the Dawn after seeing so many people say it. If that didn't work I was going to try a quick acetone wipe, and if that didn't work, a sandblaster. 🙂 Worst case I was gonna just go back to glue stick. Something will work.
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
No Acetone on textured sheet. Please.
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
@rbdopp you could also check this thread
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
@pablosimone
Thanks. I am such a novice that i don't even know how to adjust the Z setting! I get such good results with the smooth plate, I am reluctant to even try. Us newbies can be intimidated!
RE: Trouble with Powder Coated Sheet
The textured sheet is quite a bit thinner than the smooth sheet. The coatings are the main difference. Which means on the smooth, the nozzle is closer when the PINDA triggers; and farther away on the powder coated sheet. That difference must be accounted for. With 3.8, you can calibrate each sheet and save the values, and the simply select the correct sheet before printing and the correct Live-Z is reloaded.
Live-Z is essential, one of those must-know processes. Luckily, it is very easy to do using just about any part. Start the print, select the tune/live-z menu and adjust to make the first layer the right thickness (strands welded, but not overly squished).
