printing on a metal panel
Hi,
I would like to print features on top of a 3mm alu panel. On an Ender, I print from a height of 3mm using the slicer to place the object "in the air" and the printer does not care adjusting the Z to the 3mm height when it starts to print as it is "calibrated" by adjusting the bed. Although the Pusa slicer can do the same, the Pusa requires a clear bed for calibration at the start of the print. Do you think I could pause the print immediately after calibration to place the panel in the correct place and it will then print OK?
I currently cannot try this as the country is in lock down and I cannot justify going into my office just to do a test.
Any thoughts, thanks.
Jessica
RE: printing on a metal panel
If I were you I'd keep it simple. Put the panel on the bed and do your normal bed leveling. Of course in you're unlucky you'll need to move the Z endstop. Seems to simple, I'm pretty sure I missed something.
RE: printing on a metal panel
I'm curious as to why you'd want to do this, but we've had people wanting to print on a variety of surfaces. The challenge is that the PINDA probe needs a ferrous metallic surface for automatic mesh bed leveling, or at least that's my understanding of it.
You could try putting the aluminum plate atop a steel sheet and inverting it for ABL, pausing and flipping the sheet, the pressing the knob to continue. This would be relatively straightforward to do in startup gcode. Actual leveling results will be off, of course, so don't expect great 1st layer results.
The entire assembly will take a long time to heat up and your bed thermistor temp readings will be way off. You'll also be adding a lot of bed mass, so expect ringing in your Y axis. You may want to compensate with adjustments to acceleration and jerk settings.
But again, why the aluminum?
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: printing on a metal panel
@jessica
Aluminium expands with heat in a very different pattern to printed plastic. There is a high possibility your features will just pop off as the panel cools. They may even come loose on particularly hot or cold days.
You might do better attaching them with a forgiving glue.
Alternatively print onto a thin panel - which the PINDA can sense through; you will need to do a fresh first layer calibration, and then bond the thin panel to the structural part.
RE: printing on a metal panel
@diem
It was just an idea, I have been using a 1 layer base to print on then used superglue, I kinda not thought about expansion rates.
@bobstro
It is to print patterns, text, and logos on enclosure panels. I have had success fully printing panels in abs, but metal ones still look better, but I wanted to get rid of the one layer base.
Jessica
RE: printing on a metal panel
Correction: The PINDA will detect aluminum. Other concerns about temperature, surface level, and weight remain, however.
I researched mounting a 1/4" garolite sheet some time ago.
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: printing on a metal panel
@jessica
Superglue might not be the best choice here, something with more inherent stickiness might be better.
Cheerio,