Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

First up: Prusa TXT Vs. Triangle Labs TXT

Prusa TXT:

• Peg Torture Test:
  • 10x10 3mmx3mmx5mm - 100 of 100 stayed on the sheet = 100 points
  • 20x20 3mmx3mmx3mm - 396 of 400 stayed on the sheet = 99 points
• 60x60 cube:
  • Perfect First Layer 
• Stars, Circles, and squares in all 4 corners
  • Perfect first layer
• PARAMETRIC FIRST Layer test
  • No imperfections

Scoring: 

• Peg test: 99.5 points
• First Layer adhesion: 92 points
• First Layer Quality: 100 points
• Ease of removal: 100 points
• Dial-in Ease: 90 points
• Durability: 100 points
• Total: 581.5/600

Triangle Labs TXT:

• Peg Torture Test:
  • 10x10 3mmx3mmx5mm - 100 of 100 stayed on the sheet = 100 points
  • 20x20 3mmx3mmx3mm - 396 of 400 stayed on the sheet = 99 points
• 60x60 cube:
  • Near Perfect First Layer (-2)
• Stars, Circles, and squares in all 4 corners
  • Minimal Imperfections first layer (-3)
• PARAMETRIC FIRST Layer test
  • No imperfections

Scoring: 

• Peg test: 99.5 points
• First Layer Adhesion: 95 points
• First Layer Quality: 95 points
• Ease of removal: 100 points
• Dial-in Ease: 95 points
• Durability: 100 points
• Total: 584.5/600

This one is essentially a tie.  It was really close.  There will be some hurt feelings with the Prusa TXT exiting so soon.  I have to admit I was surprised.  Ease of dial-in is easier on the Triangle Labs TXT so I am going to give it the nod.  It took me atleast 6 ties to get the 400 peg test to stick or the Prusa.    To be honest, both are great sheets and you will not go wrong with either.  With shipping, the Prusa is going to set you back $41.  So even the value of the Triangle Labs is superior ($28.40).  I did not use that as criteria but you might.    

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

Triangle labs is our first winner!  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

Posted by: @charles-h13

With shipping, the Prusa is going to set you back $41.  So even the value of the Triangle Labs is superior ($28.40).  I did not use that as criteria but you might.    

Note that you can do better on shipping of Prusa parts if you buy along with filament. For two rolls of filament at $30 each plus the spring steel sheet at $25 the shipping is $13.10 to the US. That makes all of them more cost effective. If you divide the shipping evenly among the three, the spring steel is effectively $29.35 and the filament about $35 and they arrive in about three days. They also don't charge US sales tax or European VAT. A lot of higher end filament at Amazon will be similarly priced. Amazon prices for Prusa filament are ridiculous. I guess people don't know they can get it directly for a reasonable price.

So, basically every time I need spare parts, I buy enough filament to get just under where the shipping cost jumps up.

Regards,

Mark

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@marklgoldberg

That would be true if you need filament.  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

I forgot to add that my Prusa txt sheet's Z was way off -0.1265 vs -0.1400.  If one thing is for sure, I am reading better how to do the Z on the mini.  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

This was interesting read, thanks a lot for sharing your experience Charles! I did not expect Triangle Labs surface to be comparable if not better than Prusa's. Hopefully they keep the quality, but Trianglelab seems to be on better end quality-wise. Even come up with their own stuff instead of being just company that makes clones.

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

I want everyone to understand.  I am going this thread to compare surfaces and to save you from purchasing the surfaces.  I will redo the one from the MK3S soon.  Today. I will do a shootout between the Prusa smooth PEI and Buildtac pei.  I suspect this will be a tie, but who knows. 

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@charles-h13

Many thanks for this interesting contribution. Trianglelabs sells high quality products and therefore the result does not surprise me.

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@karl-herbert

I am very happy with Triangle Labs TXT.  They make good nozzles too.  I will do a review when I have more time.  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@charles-h13

I also like to buy nozzles from Tringlelabs, because they are made clean and precise. Some time ago I had successfully tested a 0.1mm nozzle, which was not available at E3D.

With a good nozzle you can save yourself a lot of trouble when printing.

One of my favorites is this one: https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/products/tungsten-carbide-3d-printer-nozzle?variant=14784857145399
but quite expensive for European buyers and unfortunately not seen anywhere else.

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@karl-herbert

If you are looking a decent alternative to TriangleLabs and E3D, look at Phaetus by BIQU.

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@charles-h13

thanks for the link. I had once suggested in the forum to publish a kind of link collection, but this has met with little interest.

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@karl-herbert

I have done that on other forums.  The problem here is that you would need moderator privlidges because you cannot edit a post after x minutes.  I administer three other forums and it is not an issue because I can roll back the forum to prior to the change if someone gets nefarious.  

I personally would love to create a thread of nozzle or sheet recommendations.  

I might have a way if you are interested in helping.  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@charles-h13

I think that it needs a moderator to administrate an external site and to put the own experiences and tips of other users into a database, table or something similar. Wearing parts like printing plates, nozzles, thermistors etc. are needed again and again and people often don't know where to buy them. It also makes a difference where people live.
Such a database to create makes a lot of work at the beginning, but would balance out over time and must be constantly maintained. I like to make my contribution to it.

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

I have altered the bracket.  Next up:  BCZAMD Gold vs. UltiStick

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

I may have found a new surprise sheet!

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

Hey @charles-h13, I just remembered that if you're only doing PLA printing, textured vinyl is a fair contender. BuildTak too if not after heavy texture. 

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

@bobstro

Thanks.  I had good success early with one that I was testing, but it flopped.  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

Match up number 2: BCZAMD TXT Vs. Ultistik Txt

BCZAMD TXT:

• Peg Torture Test:
  • 10x10 3mmx3mmx5mm - 100 of 100 stayed on the sheet = 100 points
  • 20x20 3mmx3mmx3mm - 388 of 400 stayed on the sheet = 94.6 points
• 60x60 cube:
  • Perfect First Layer 
• Stars, Circles, and squares in all 4 corners
  • Perfect first layer with a slight imperfection in corners -4
• PARAMETRIC FIRST Layer test
  • No imperfections   

Scoring: 

• Peg test: 97.6 points
• First Layer adhesion: 97 points
• First Layer Quality: 95 points
• Ease of removal: 100 points
• Dial-in Ease: 90 points
• Durability: 100 points
• Total: 585.5/600

Ultistik Txt (by FilamentOne):

• Peg Torture Test:
  • 10x10 3mmx3mmx5mm - 100 of 100 stayed on the sheet = 100 points
  • 20x20 3mmx3mmx3mm - 396 of 400 stayed on the sheet = 99 points
• 60x60 cube:
  • Perfect First Layer:
• Stars, Circles, and squares in all 4 corners
  • Zero imperfections
• PARAMETRIC FIRST Layer test
  • No imperfections

Scoring: 

• Peg test: 99.5 points
• First Layer Adhesion: 98 points
• First Layer Quality: 100 points
• Ease of removal: 100 points
• Dial-in Ease: 100 points
• Durability: 100 points
• Total: 592/600

There is a clear winner in this one.  It was close, but the Ultistick has superior adhesion and released better after cooling.  I also found the finer texture to be superior for looks.  Ease of dial-in is easier on the Ultistick but it was nominal.  The BCZAMD was cheaper but I found the prints harder to remove after cooling.  You really could not go wrong with either of these sheets.  I would say that both are superior to Prusa's TXT sheet and Triangle Labs.  I found that FilamentOne makes an Ultistik for the MK3s.  I just order them for it also.  

RE: Prusa Mini Print Surface Shoot Out

I just found two more test sheets.  I am testing Overture and Duramic sheets that come for free with their rolls (Duramic PLA and Overture PLA have them gratis with a roll of filament).  I just finished the test with Duramic.  This stuff is sticky.  Just wow.  It was quick to dial in and nailed the peg test 100 of 100 and 400 of 400.  One problem, hard to remove the prints.  Just a touch more effort.  I would use it only with larger prints.  The little pegs or delicate items might be a step too far.  

As far as adhesive power to the print, these are by far the strongest so far.  I would not dream of using them with PETG.