Powder coated bed adhesion  

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

It seems that most modern lacquer thinner are acetone based (according to Wikipedia...), so that's logical that it works well since it's like using pure acetone.
But I wouldn't recommand using this as an everyday cleaner for your steel sheet. IPA (isopropyl alcohol) is advised for PEI with sometimes acetone for a more thorough cleaning when needed.

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

To my amazement the dish soap and hot water works at least as good as acetone. Found this in the forum, dismissed it at first as silly. Then it cured PLA not sticking to the PEI sheet after a PETG print.

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

i know what you mean, the dish soap and hot water.. magic. all hail dawn soap, not only can it clean birds after an oil spill, it also cleans my printer 😀

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

+1

I usually use 90% IPA, but at some point prints just stop sticking very well. When I get a fail I make sure to really wipe the bed down with the alcohol. If the second print fails I take the build plate right to the sink, light scrub with some dawn and a soft sponge, then dry it very thoroughly. One more wipe with the IPA and I’m back in business.

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

I still use a pirex glass build plate on my Rostock max so I am looking forward to trying out the powder coated plate that came with my kit.

Over the years I think I have tried about a dozen different sprays and rub on junk and other wonder juice items to "make printing ABS as easy as PLA" riiight In the end I had to drive my bed heater via 24 volt solid state relay and build a huge heated enclosure to print ABS to about 70% of the ( admittedly huge) build space and I never have dialed in that last space near the edge of the build circle with ABS or 910 nylon
My project for the next few months is get to know my MK3 and get it really dialed in so I can make parts for my delta upgrade that are near the level that PRUSA provides in the kits. I finished most of the mechanical build today and tomorrow is the extruder and hot end assembly and starting the wiring.

Then I suppose I will have to build a Core XY printer like The RailCore 2 Duet 🤪

Enjoying the build a lot so far.
Cheers
R

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

I must research this dawn soap. Google suggests it is the same as Fairy Liquid in the UK?
Ian

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

I must research this dawn soap. Google suggests it is the same as Fairy Liquid in the UK?
Ian

Aldi and lidl cheap detergent works too...
Regards Joan

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

Thanks Joan. So to confirm, I should use it on the PC plate after each print?
Ian

Re: Powder coated bed adhesion

I can't answer for the PC bed. as My September 2017 and October 2017 printer and upgrade options were supplied with sticker beds...

however they are all one form or another of PEI.

I find a really good clean lasts for a number of prints, so if I am printing PLA, I don't clean between prints, just flex the last print off, and print the next one...
if I get finger prints on the plate, I clean them off, but usually I press on the print in preference to the build plate.

If I switch to PETG or TPU/TPE I annoint the surface with Talcum powder and wipe it off, so the barest trace remains, or wipe my fingers across the build plate, to reduce adhesion, for a bigger print, you need more release agent, so A bit of forehead rubbing, normally sorts the deficiency...

switching back from PETG or TPU/TPE to PLA benefits from a good wash and dry...

I don't do ABS At all, so can't help there

hope this helps,
Joan