Dishwasher?  

RE: Dishwasher?

Thanks for asking.

the build sheets are steel cored. 

Steel can be  adversely affected by moisture.  (Rusting)

If you hand wash and dry immediately, this is a controlled issue. (So far, I have no evidence of rusting on any of My build plates. including a Chinese Smooth/Textured sheet.)

If you put the build plate in a dishwasher, it will be in there for an extended period.

Many dishwashers start with cold water, which takes time to heat,  then you have either the pre wash or wash cycle, where the sheet cooks gently at elevated temperature in a moist environment. (Maybe twice, if you prewash)
then there is the rinse cycle which again needs heating, and rinse time, 
and then the contents of the dish washer are often left in the washer for an extended period of time in a cooling high humidity environment. 

A Hot Moist environment is an excellent environment for promoting rust... (bearings in blender attachments and bread makers, tend to rust as do baking trays and cake tins...  Stainless Cutlery sometimes rusts (Stainless is not 'Rustless') and often gets a dark surface finish when washed frequently in washing machines. 

you might get away with it... then you might not. 

If you have the dark, stickered smooth PEI Sheet, you possibly stand best chance of success... 

but it's not a risk I would be prepared to take

regards Joan

RE: Dishwasher?

Posted by: @dmr436

With all of this talk about using dish detergent to clean the print sheet, has anyone just tried running them through the dishwasher?

Any particular reason not to?

It's worth a try. However, I would try the textured printing plate first.

In the case of the foiled printing plate, the heat and the washing-up liquid could possibly affect the adhesives.

I look forward to hearing your field report. Never tried this, because i don't have a dishwasher (but I'm owner of 3D printer) 😋 

RE: Dishwasher?

Posted by: @dmr436

With all of this talk about using dish detergent to clean the print sheet, has anyone just tried running them through the dishwasher?

Any particular reason not to?

I have done this twice.  Make sure you dry it well. 

RE: Dishwasher?

Posted by: @dmr436

With all of this talk about using dish detergent to clean the print sheet, has anyone just tried running them through the dishwasher?

I'd watch out for things like anti-spotting agents and other things desirable for dishes but likely bad for adhesion. It's one of those "interesting, but not worth it" adventures, IMO. A hand wash takes seconds.

RE: Dishwasher?

A excellent question that I’ve asked myself as well.
I wouldn’t be afraid of trying, if the hypothesis of it starting to rust that fast is true then everything made of steel (with paint on it) would start to rust very very quickly if left outside. I find this to be not true. 
Or is the textured sheets PEI coating not watertight? (Serious question)

And even if you have scratches on it my guess is that it would take a lot of abuse for it to actually start to rust in any sense that matters.

Please report back if you decide to try and I will give it another go to remember trying myself 🙂

RE: Dishwasher?

I would advise against it purely on the basis that most dishwashing cleaning materials are abrasive in a way that non-scouring pads are not. Glass does not stay shiny for long after a few runs through the dishwasher and the beds are only coated not a solid finish.

Andrew

RE: Dishwasher?

Posted by: @dmr436

With all of this talk about using dish detergent to clean the print sheet, has anyone just tried running them through the dishwasher?

Any particular reason not to?

I will try it tonight with the bed I am retiring.  I will post an update tomorrow.  

@andrewld

I think it is worth a try.  

RE: Dishwasher?

Been thinking of the same solution dmr. Hand washing sucks. I think its possible and rust is a minor issue that could be solved very easily. 

RE: Dishwasher?

Whatever you do, pay attention to handling after washing. A few errant fingerprints can undo a good wash.

RE: Dishwasher?

Ok.  Dishwasher complete.  No issues yet.  I have marked it and will wash it once a week and post an update.  

RE: Dishwasher?

I have had good luck hand washing using hot water, specific dish soap/detergent, rinsing well in medium heat then cold, drying and wiping down with IPA...but its slow and tedious. 

Next thing to figure out is what is the best soap/detergent to use if the dishwasher method works. 

Temp might play a big factor too. 

Side note, the firmware can support multiple saved first layer calibrations - Makes it quite a bit easier to manage a rotation of build plates for a specific machine if using the dishwasher works. 

RE: Dishwasher?

I purposely chose a very mold one.  My local grocery store had this: Better Life Dishwasher Detergent.  It has fewer additives so I thought it would work better. 

RE: Dishwasher?

Thanks everyone!

I think I'm gonna err on the side of caution and wash it manually. 

I don't want to encourage rust and I use those pods in the dishwasher and I really don't know what all is in them. 

I would be interested in hearing if anyone does try it and if so what detergent you used. 

RE: Dishwasher?

@dmr436

I prefer to clean and dry by hand. This only takes a few minutes and does not damage the printing plate. I take my time. Maybe it would look different if I ran a print farm.

RE: Dishwasher?

Hand washing is certainly faster. I'm usually impatient and trying to get a print started.

RE: Dishwasher?

Posted by: @karl-herbert

@dmr436

I prefer to clean and dry by hand. This only takes a few minutes and does not damage the printing plate. I take my time. Maybe it would look different if I ran a print farm.

I also prefer handwashing.  I did this to answer the question.  It works well and can be done.  I had an old sheet that was nearing end of life.  It is a good way to send it off.  No change to adhesion on my sheet with dishwasher vs. handwashing.  

RE: Dishwasher?

When you have hundreds of build plates it makes sense to automate a cleaning process. 

I understand the potential issues with rust but I’m sure it could be mitigated.

Dishwasher would likely have to be modified/temp/time controlled. I do want to test this method. Just makes sense when dealing with large volumes. Also helps take advantage of using the multiple first layer calibrations that can now be saved to each printer. One batch of places could be being washed in the dishwasher and another set could be used.

RE: Dishwasher?

@charles-h13

Good to know. If i ever should own a dishwasher, I'm gonna test it. However, i would test it without tabs, just with descaler.
Since so many users have problems with dirty printing plates and not well adhering prints, Prusa could perhaps develop a "printing plate dishwasher" 😋 👍 .

RE: Dishwasher?

Running print sheets through the dishwasher is not recommended. Dishwashers are designed for dishes and utensils, not printing materials. The high water pressure, heat, and detergents used in dishwashers can damage or warp print sheets, affecting their performance and lifespan. It's advisable to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning and maintenance to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of print sheets, rather than using unconventional methods that may lead to damage.