Type and treatment of PEI sheets for various filaments?
I am considering getting a PRUSA 3+ but I have no experience with PEI print surfaces since I use glass and hairspray with my Qidi. I looked at some of the filaments and saw that for PC Blend Prusa says you need to use glue stick in order to allow the parts to release and to avoid damaging the PEI. What I am looking for is a reference that shows what you need to do for the various filaments. IOW, which type of PEI is best for each material (smooth, textured, satin?), what treatment, like glue stick, is required, if any, etc. Does Prusa have this information anywhere on their website?
RE: Type and treatment of PEI sheets for various filaments?
This is probably what you are looking for: https://help.prusa3d.com/materials
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RE: Type and treatment of PEI sheets for various filaments?
As chris laudermilk said, read Prusa ‘materials’ document, You’ll find answers to most questions.
- I own the satin and smooth plates. Never used the textured, Most of my prints are PLA or PETg. Occasionally TPU, PP and Prusament PC blend
If it serves of something, here’s my experience so far :
- For PETg my usual choice is the satin surface. Good adhesion but not so much that it would damage the sheet when you remove the pieces.
Satin sheet is very good for PLA too. In this case, if the parts have a small contact area on the bed and/or steep overhangs, I play safe spraying a faint layer of 3Dlac as additional adhesive. I don’t do it every time, only now and then
On the smooth plate, PETg needs a separation layer to avoid excessive adhesion and possible damage to the PEI surface. I use 3Dlac, this time not as adhesive, but as a release agent. PLA works great on the smooth plate. If the bed is really clean and the Z of the first layer well tuned, no need to employ any adhesive (although it doesn’t hurts with small parts having a tiny contact area with the bed).
- TPU : I use only the smooth plate, always with a release agent ( 3Dlac or in some cases glue stick). It isn’t that TPU won’t stick well to the satin plate, but the problem is that it tends to leave traces of filament trapped in the textured surface and its very difficult to remove those little spots afterwards.
- PC: This is a filament that requires a very strong adhesion to the PEI surface, or it will end up warping and ruining the job. No success with the satin plate. Even on relatively small parts, I usually got some warping, so for PC my choice is always the smooth plate. I use a dedicated adhesive ( Dimafix ) because glue stick is messy and 3Dlac looses efficiency when the bed temperature approaches 100C.
- PP : My brand of polypropylene comes with it’s own adhesive, which you must use always. So far I tried only the smooth plate and it works fine. I think that the satin plate would be OK for PP as well, but no direct experience yet.
RE: Type and treatment of PEI sheets for various filaments?
Read the materials page in the Prusa knowledgebase. Toss that hair spray… barbaric. I've switched all printers over to satin sheets. Work great with anything I've thrown at them. PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PC , TPU, etc. just make sure you follow the recommendations and use a separating agent such as glue stick for TPU (speaking from experience 🤬). For certain models I use a thin layer of Layerneer but it's rare.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE:
I have the textured (TL-21) and it is superb for PETG. I don't print models with a small footprint, but it requires almost no prep.. just a wipe with alcohol. PETG releases great when cool. I have smooth and use for PLA.. it is great for that.. I only use a release agent when I use PETG on the smooth. Each of my sheets requires a custom Z calibration as they are different thicknesses. If you get the textured, you will need to clean really, really well with a sponge.. if you use the abrasive side, go lightly.. but there is some film on it that will make you think the sheet is not working.. soap and sponge.. and you might need to use a few times and clean.. but after a few days it is perfect. When you use a different sheet, you need to select it one the LCD menu. Forgetting to select the correct sheet will kill your print.
RE: Type and treatment of PEI sheets for various filaments?
Prusa Smooth -> Pla (though getting some ghosting on the plate as of late)
Prusa Textured -> Pet-G (zero problems)
Prusa Satin -> ABS (zero problems)
Ultistik -> TPU (zero problems)
Buildtak Nylon+ -> Nylons (zero problems)
I don't cross contaminate my build plates AND use soap and water before any print. I never, ever use any goop or slime or snot or whatever.
No reason to believe this is the best or only way, but life is too short for me to be fussing with build plates. I am print, get paid, go home kind of guy.
Don’t trust forum advice.
RE: Type and treatment of PEI sheets for various filaments?
Had my 3S+ for about a week and I remembered what you said here. These PEI sheets are indeed a game changer. I am having great results with both the smooth and satin plates and much easier to release than waiting for the glass table with hairspray to cool down, especially with PETG. Or getting impatient and tugging the prints off the glass which messed up the bed leveling. But then the glass and hairspray was worlds better on my first printer than before I added the glass sheet. Used to have to use masking tape and glue stick. That was a real PITA for sure.
Read the materials page in the Prusa knowledgebase. Toss that hair spray… barbaric. I've switched all printers over to satin sheets. Work great with anything I've thrown at them. PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PC , TPU, etc. just make sure you follow the recommendations and use a separating agent such as glue stick for TPU (speaking from experience 🤬). For certain models I use a thin layer of Layerneer but it's rare.