Powder coated vs. smooth version  

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

Its all about the bottom layer.. The Powder Coat version will give a rough, textured finish.. Where as the PEI sheet will be smoother.

There is also a Gloss Powder Coat version in the works (which I believe is a still a pipe dream) and that will leave a near glass like (perfectly flat) finish when (if) its released.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

Thanks for reply. Soo if we want almost glass why somebody would like to have Powder coated which is rough?

When buying MK3 is it worth of waiting additional 5-6 weeks to get it with powder coated. Is powder coated for some special printed parts and smooth for others like jewellery? Sorry for this question but I am little bit confused on that.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

Its just personal preference.. The Poweder coat bed leaves a nice textured finish, but if you want your part to sit perfectly flat, or perhaps glue to another part, its not ideal. Where as the smooth bed leaves a perfectly flat bottom which is good in some applications.

Due to the nature of FDM pritning, the side walls and top are textured, so its nice to have the Powder Coated finish on the bottom, so that all 6 faces are textured.. But there are times that you might want a flat base.

As such its a good idea to have BOTH options and this is why the MK3 is so good as it allows you to swap as/when you want IF you can source both beds.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

The powder coated sheet offers more surface area and better adhesion. There's also an aesthetic, durability, and longevity benefit but the biggest benefit is adhesion.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

So then it more or less must to have it? Do you know how much it will cost if I order it later on?

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

So then it more or less must to have it? Do you know how much it will cost if I order it later on?

If you have registered on the e-shop page, you can look that up yourself.
If you haven't, it's as easy as it was registering for this forum. 😉

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

So then it more or less must to have it? Do you know how much it will cost if I order it later on?
I wouldn't say it's a must have, so much as a really nice to have. They're also offering a smooth powder-coated version. The big draw on the textured surface is (surprise!) the textured finish. If you're not after that, you get essentially the same surface with the powder-coated or PEI sticker smooth plates.

The powder coat is definitely a nice feature, but it is not indestructible. There's a thread in the german section of these pages where a guy managed to get a sticky material (PETG I think) to stick so hard he couldn't remove it from the powder coated bed. He wound up dinging the bed rather badly in the process of getting it off. Damaging the bed always sucks, but at least with a sticker sheet, you can replace it. I'm going to buy the textured PC bed for those instances where I really want that textured finish, but for everything else, I'm perfectly happy using a PEI sheet that I can tear up and replace without too much concern, especially when experimenting with high-temp materials. The important thing to me is to have more than one sheet on hand in case one gets damaged. It's also nice to be able to pull one off to cool while getting started on the next print in a big job.

The PC sheets are about $25 in the online shop. The double-sided PEI sticker version is $29. Plus shipping.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

So then it more or less must to have it? Do you know how much it will cost if I order it later on?
I wouldn't say it's a must have, so much as a really nice to have. They're also offering a smooth powder-coated version. The big draw on the textured surface is (surprise!) the textured finish. If you're not after that, you get essentially the same surface with the powder-coated or PEI sticker smooth plates.

The powder coat is definitely a nice feature, but it is not indestructible. There's a thread in the german section of these pages where a guy managed to get a sticky material (PETG I think) to stick so hard he couldn't remove it from the powder coated bed. He wound up dinging the bed rather badly in the process of getting it off. Damaging the bed always sucks, but at least with a sticker sheet, you can replace it. I'm going to buy the textured PC bed for those instances where I really want that textured finish, but for everything else, I'm perfectly happy using a PEI sheet that I can tear up and replace without too much concern, especially when experimenting with high-temp materials. The important thing to me is to have more than one sheet on hand in case one gets damaged. It's also nice to be able to pull one off to cool while getting started on the next print in a big job.

The PC sheets are about $25 in the online shop. The double-sided PEI sticker version is $29. Plus shipping.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

So then it more or less must to have it? Do you know how much it will cost if I order it later on?
I wouldn't say it's a must have, so much as a really nice to have. They're also offering a smooth powder-coated version. The big draw on the textured surface is (surprise!) the textured finish. If you're not after that, you get essentially the same surface with the powder-coated or PEI sticker smooth plates.

The powder coat is definitely a nice feature, but it is not indestructible. There's a thread in the german section of these pages where a guy managed to get a sticky material (PETG I think) to stick so hard he couldn't remove it from the powder coated bed. He wound up dinging the bed rather badly in the process of getting it off. Damaging the bed always sucks, but at least with a sticker sheet, you can replace it. I'm going to buy the textured PC bed for those instances where I really want that textured finish, but for everything else, I'm perfectly happy using a PEI sheet that I can tear up and replace without too much concern, especially when experimenting with high-temp materials. The important thing to me is to have more than one sheet on hand in case one gets damaged. It's also nice to be able to pull one off to cool while getting started on the next print in a big job.

The PC sheets are about $25 in the online shop. The double-sided PEI sticker version is $29. Plus shipping.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

So then it more or less must to have it? Do you know how much it will cost if I order it later on?

If you have registered on the e-shop page, you can look that up yourself.
If you haven't, it's as easy as it was registering for this forum. 😉

Where can I check that price for powder version, I checked all tabs on: https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/26-accessories

@ bobstro, where did you found smooth version for 25$, isn't that the smoot version for ~9€ ( https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/3d-printer-parts/228-replacement-pei-sheet-ultem.html ) ?

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

Post stutter? (repeated post)

It's also nice to be able to pull one off to cool while getting started on the next print in a big job.

....And here I've been waving the sheet around like a folding fan.... with the parts stuck to it. 😆

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

[...] @ bobstro, where did you found smooth version for 25$, isn't that the smoot version for ~9€ ( https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/3d-printer-parts/228-replacement-pei-sheet-ultem.html ) ?
I'm seeing all of the options when I log into the online store - Double-sided PEI sticker, smooth powder-coated and textured powder-coated sheets. There are prices for the powder-coated beds, but you can't actually order them yet. The link to the cheap part is just the replacement PEI sticker for the double-sided stickered plate.

Although... I really shouldn't be telling you that. They're not in the store. Ignore that. I'll tell you after I get mine, trust me. (Elbowing up to the front of the bus queue.)

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

[...] ....And here I've been waving the sheet around like a folding fan.... with the parts stuck to it. 😆
Too much work. Just toss it like a shuriken into the drywall as you wait.

Re: Powder coated vs. smooth version

[...] ....And here I've been waving the sheet around like a folding fan.... with the parts stuck to it. 😆
Too much work. Just toss it like a shuriken into the drywall as you wait.

SHHHH!!! She hasn't found the gouge yet--I hung the calendar over it! (Looks better there, Dear, doesn't it?)