First layer PETG not sticking to print bed  

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

I've had mixed results with PETG brands. Some stick like super glue (Prusament), and some simply won't stick well (Amazon).

PETG usually needs a release agent: GluStik, a dried coat of Windex, spreading fingerprints all over the bed, etc.  So the answer is: "It depends..."

If a PETG part is really stuck down, a few minutes in the freezer can help ease removal.

I've gotten Amazon PETG to stick by getting the BED really clean, washing the bed in soap and hot water.   Soap and water is best because of how much water you use: over a few drops of alcohol or acetone compared to gallons of hot water.

Alcohol rinse: every few prints

• Gloves recommended.
• Once in a while, an alcohol rinse is helpful to remove PLA residue. It does not remove finger oils well.
• Pour a 5 cm puddle of 91%+ alcohol in the middle of the bed, with clean hands use a fresh paper towel to scrub the bed. Wipe up all the alcohol.

Acetone wash: infrequent

• Pour a 2 cm puddle of acetone on the bed, scrub it around with a fresh paper towel. It will evaporate fast as you clean. This step removes PEI oxides that form over time and with heat, and improves PLA adhesion to a like new state.

Hot Water wash: often, as needed, and after any of the above

• Handle the bed only by the edges.
• Wash the bed in hot water, use a fresh paper towel as a wash cloth, with a few drops of plain dish soap (Dawn, unscented, no anti-bacterial, etc.).
• Rinse well in hot water - if you have very soft water, rinse a bit longer.
• Dry the bed with a fresh paper towel.
• Handle the bed only by the edges.
• Place bed on printer.

Streak test: when contamination is suspected

• With a fresh piece of paper towel, and very clean fingers, dampen the towel with 91%+ alcohol, and wipe the bed side to side moving back to front, like you're painting it with alcohol. The alcohol should be thin enough on the towel it quickly evaporates. If you see any streaks, the bed is dirty and needs a wash.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

I'm using Prusament and the problem isn't with it sticking.  The problem is that the first layer is NOT sticking.  It's peeling up and globbing on the nozzle like in the picture and the first layers aren't viable at all and I abort the print.  Can't figure out why since I had printed a ton of parts earlier and hadn't changed any settings.  Cleaned the bed multiple times with either acetone or alcohol or Windex.  None of it made any difference.  If I print more than one object on the bed, the second one will not lay down a good first layer, and oftentimes the first part won't lay down a good first layer.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Son of a gun if that didn't fix it.  First layers going down like a champ just like the first parts I printed.  I have seen the acetone, alcohol and Windex, but no where in the manual or Prusa videos have I seen the soap and water.  Guess I just haven't gotten to those yet.  Thank you so much! 

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Tim is correct and his answers above are a succinct summary of the steps to correct adhesion issues which is what your picture is showing.

If you are printing Prusament PETG, check the temps and speeds.  I find that 240 works for me and that globbing happens if it is not hot enough.  Make sure you selected Prusament PETG in the filament selection in Prusa Slicer and not one of the other PETG profiles...

Make sure your live z is good with a first layer test and also, with the nozzle at temp, clean off the nozzle with a brass brush to remove the stuff that accumulated on it already before trying again.

Ooops, guess you snuck in right before my post and answered it...

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

All right folks, sorry for posting on an old thread.  First, wanted to give a big shout out thank you for the soap and water suggestion.  I tried literally every cleaner available in my shop, EXCEPT soap and water.  Once I washed my Prusa OG PEI smooth plate with soap and water, PETG prints started sticking.

However... new, sort of related problem.  I started getting greasy stains on my PEI plates.  I would try an alcohol scrub with paper towels on a cool plate followed by a soap-and-water wash under warm water in the sink, but I can only describe it as grease stains remaining on the print.  Scrub scrub scrub and it wouldn't go away.  Was convinced it was some kind of weird PEI bubbling... nope!  As soon as my nozzle went over the grease stain, the filament would squirt all over, come up, and ruin the print.

I suspect the grease could either be leftover grease from greasing the printer, OR, could be bandaid gunk (you know that gunk on fabric bandaids) or neosporin (cut my finger) coming off my hands onto the plate while cleaning, or, who knows.  In any case, I wanted to share my fix:

Goo Gone in the bottle.  I wiped both sides of my PEI smooth sheet with paper towel and a dab of goo gone and it started removing everything, including some old remnants of past PETG prints that just wouldn't go away otherwise.  Of course I had to follow up the goo gone application with soap and water wash.  Then it was as if I had a brand new build plate.

I have no idea what the ramifications will be of using goo gone in the long term (will the active ingredients eat the build plate?  only time will tell) but, and I hope I don't sound like I'm plugging an advertisement, but goo gone is now a part of my print plate's regular diet.  Goo Gone -> Soap and Water -> PETG Prints stick every time at default settings with proper live z-level adjustment.

Now, if I can just figure out how to get ANYTHING to stick to my powder coated build plate... (looks at goo gone bottle).  Will report back on that once I get it solved.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Posted by: @odingalt

[...] I have no idea what the ramifications will be of using goo gone in the long term (will the active ingredients eat the build plate?  only time will tell) but, and I hope I don't sound like I'm plugging an advertisement, but goo gone is now a part of my print plate's regular diet.  Goo Gone -> Soap and Water -> PETG Prints stick every time at default settings with proper live z-level adjustment.

I have read that limonene (the stuff recommended by Prusa to remove old PEI sheets) is a major ingredient in Goo Gone. So long as it's not on the glue edges for a prolonged period, there's probably little risk of damage. I use acetone (per Prusa's original recommendations when the Mk3 was new) for the same reason. Sometimes you need just a little more to remove stubborn grease and filament.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Posted by: @bobstro

 

I have read that limonene (the stuff recommended by Prusa to remove old PEI sheets) is a major ingredient in Goo Gone. So long as it's not on the glue edges for a prolonged period, there's probably little risk of damage. I use acetone (per Prusa's original recommendations when the Mk3 was new) for the same reason. Sometimes you need just a little more to remove stubborn grease and filament.

Boy am I glad you posted.  That is one good piece of information.  If you hadn't posted, I'd be happily dousing this build plate in limonene, and then by oh say about next week, I'd be shopping for a new replacement build plate 😀 

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Go easy on the acetone if you elect to use it. While I apply it once a month or so as needed to remove stuck filament, it can definitely cause the PEI to become brittle if overused.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

for @cbethea73

I have had the same problem with PETG. For me what has worked reliably is to reduce the first layer speed. I now use 10 mm/s for first layer with PETG . This slows down the print time quite a bit but has completely eliminated the problem of the first layer peeling back when the extruder changes direction. In my mind this gives the filament time to cool and stick before the extruder pulls it in the next direction (if that makes any sense).

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

@-2

Let me extend heartfelt thanks. I developed a sudden first player problem characterized by my print lifting free of the bed. Just in the left rear quadrant, nowhere else. I cleaned it with alcohol, same problem. Thought one of my bed heating elements might have failed, but came across your remarks on degreasing. Following your advice, I washed the plate with soapy water and my problem magically went away. (Since the plate is identical top and bottom I think what happened was that I turned it over and was trying to print on the surface that had been in contact with my fingers). Again, thank you so much.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

@--

I can confirm that the soap and water cleaning also works on my ultrabase bed.
I don't even have to use a gluestick or anything else. 

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

@el-jefe-vador

I think soap and water works on all surfaces except blue paper tape.  

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Thanks everyone for the advice; I was having the same issue and now it is gone!

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Also came to say thanks for the advice in this post I found it when I had the same issue

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Many thanks for the "soap" trick. I used dish soap and achieved perfect results afterwards.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Just one more voice SHOUTING THANK YOU!

Soap and hot water = Prusa Orange PETG sticking!

I might try the “first layer speed to 10” a go, just to add to the probability of a good first layer.  Added time for one layer is well worth it if the alternative is to cancel print, remove stuff, wash sheet, clean nozzle, restart print.

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

Holy crap. Swapped from my PLA roll to PETG and spent hours fiddling with cooling, speed, and every other setting imaginable and also using glue when I've never had to use it before because my filament would start okay but then start curling up off the bed, sticking to the nozzle and gathering in a giant mess that would travel with the nozzle. I was minutes away from completely swearing off PETG filament.

One rinse with hot water and dish soap fixed everything. Sticking like a dream. THANK YOU!

RE: First layer PETG not sticking to print bed

"One rinse with hot water and dish soap fixed everything. Sticking like a dream. THANK YOU!" 👍 👍 👍 

wbr,

Karl