Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Those with the 3rd party powder coated plates please post reviews here or obvious topic. Do these plates coating fare better than the ill fated prusa ones.
I'm using buildtak and it doesn't last even with PLA as it ages getting over adhesion then damage. New sheets are £10/$14 and it mounts up I'm on sheet 3. A durable plate pays for itself in a year.
Also not impressed by official supplier efforts or communication, I still have a useless voucher for the right plate.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Those with the 3rd party powder coated plates please post reviews here or obvious topic. Do these plates coating fare better than the ill fated prusa ones.
I'm using buildtak and it doesn't last even with PLA as it ages getting over adhesion then damage. New sheets are £10/$14 and it mounts up I'm on sheet 3. A durable plate pays for itself in a year.
Also not impressed by official supplier efforts or communication, I still have a useless voucher for the right plate.
Ill let you know when mine comes in. Should be within the next couple days. Ive talked to the seller, he seems really optimistic that this is the last build sheet I will ever need but lets see what happens. I've heard to many worthless sales pitches over the years to believe it yet. I'm sure if I find that it works out well I will tell you guys immediately. With that said, I will not be able to tell you guys the longevity of it until I get some decent time on it. But I will share my initial thoughts.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
New build plate arrived.
About half the thickness of the current build plate. My current plate is 1.1-1.2mm while the new one is .58-.60 so I'll have to redo the 1st layer live z procedure.
Overall dimensions are close to the original plate.
Some minor issues with the logo overlay on one side of the plate. No big deal but notable based on the issues Prusa seems to be having. The powder coating itself looks even and well attached to the plate when looked at by eye.
My overall 1st impression is that the plate looks like it holds promise.
Off to do the adjustments and try a PLA print.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
New build plate arrived.
About half the thickness of the current build plate. My current plate is 1.1-1.2mm while the new one is .58-.60 so I'll have to redo the 1st layer live z procedure.
Overall dimensions are close to the original plate.
Some minor issues with the logo overlay on one side of the plate. No big deal but notable based on the issues Prusa seems to be having. The powder coating itself looks even and well attached to the plate when looked at by eye.
My overall 1st impression is that the plate looks like it holds promise.
Off to do the adjustments and try a PLA print.
Oooh pictures please... I'm back to hating the Build-Tak today
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Here is a link to a video of my initial thoughts of this build plate that sells on Amazon. If the link is removed the search my username on YouTube,
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
That's pretty salty price for one sheet: $69.99 + $13.99 shipping
Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Here is a link to a video of my initial thoughts of this build plate that sells on Amazon. If the link is removed the search my username on YouTube,
Good video. I wonder why the instructions say to not clean the bed. I'm not digging the marks that previous prints leave on that surface. I'd want to clean the bed to remove the marks but I wonder if that will wear the coating off the bed. I think I'll wait for Prusa
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Here is a link to a video of my initial thoughts of this build plate that sells on Amazon. If the link is removed the search my username on YouTube,
Good video. I wonder why the instructions say to not clean the bed. I'm not digging the marks that previous prints leave on that surface. I'd want to clean the bed to remove the marks but I wonder if that will wear the coating off the bed. I think I'll wait for Prusa
Printing on any type surface even glass with no glue will leave some kind of plastic residue or temporary print scar. I haven't tried cleaning it yet but it has not degraded the surface in any way That I can tell. Time will tell
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Here is a link to a video of my initial thoughts of this build plate that sells on Amazon. If the link is removed the search my username on YouTube,
Good video. I wonder why the instructions say to not clean the bed. I'm not digging the marks that previous prints leave on that surface. I'd want to clean the bed to remove the marks but I wonder if that will wear the coating off the bed. I think I'll wait for Prusa
I don't think it meant it cant be cleaned rather than not needed to be cleaned. Hard to say what he meant after his misspelling.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Printing on any type surface even glass with no glue will leave some kind of plastic residue or temporary print scar. I haven't tried cleaning it yet but it has not degraded the surface in any way That I can tell. Time will tell
I don't think it meant it cant be cleaned rather than not needed to be cleaned. Hard to say what he meant after his misspelling.
Totally get the plastic residue, that's why I'd want to clean it off. I'll continue to hold out hope for Prusa but will keep an eye on how this plate ages.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
I looked at the video posted above and I found it interesting that we both used the same item for a print test!
I used some cheap, yellow PLA that has been laying around for quite some time. I have basically the same comments as was in the video.
BBBBBUUUUUTTTTTT, Houston, we have a problem. The yellow PLA is clearly showing that the PEI coating is not completely stable. I didn't take pictures yet but I will when I have the time. What I did is printed the Prusa logo 3 times. The 1st 2 times show lots of black flecks throughout the back of the logo. I initially thought perhaps it was left over flecks from the manufacturing process.
I then took a can of compressed air and tried to blow off any remaining residue. The third print was better but there continue to be black flecks on the back of the logo making the print look dirty. It's not anything you could sell as a finished product and be proud of. Everone that looked at the logos tried to wipe the flecks off which are very visible.
I have real concerns that the PEI will continue to wear off and cannot recommend the build plate at this time. Maybe after some more use, the problem may clear up but so far the plate does NOT justify the high cost.
One last point which for some reason really bothers me is the content used within the instruction sheets is copied directly from Prusa materials and handbooks but the Manufacturer uses a copyright message that the material is theirs. I find that dishonest or maybe just an oversite but it's not right.
Will continue to test other materials over the next several days and will keep people posted.
If anyone wants to see a specific material let me know and I'll see if I have the filament around.
Edit: Here's the picture of the 3rd test after blasting the sheet with compressed air.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xVF96ISIe_Yz9aNK9M_RsSjFFzl7H2EU/view?usp=sharing
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
I looked at the video posted above and I found it interesting that we both used the same item for a print test!
I used some cheap, yellow PLA that has been laying around for quite some time. I have basically the same comments as was in the video.
BBBBBUUUUUTTTTTT, Houston, we have a problem. The yellow PLA is clearly showing that the PEI coating is not completely stable. I didn't take pictures yet but I will when I have the time. What I did is printed the Prusa logo 3 times. The 1st 2 times show lots of black flecks throughout the back of the logo. I initially thought perhaps it was left over flecks from the manufacturing process.
I then took a can of compressed air and tried to blow off any remaining residue. The third print was better but there continue to be black flecks on the back of the logo making the print look dirty. It's not anything you could sell as a finished product and be proud of. Everone that looked at the logos tried to wipe the flecks off which are very visible.
I have real concerns that the PEI will continue to wear off and cannot recommend the build plate at this time. Maybe after some more use, the problem may clear up but so far the plate does NOT justify the high cost.
One last point which for some reason really bothers me is the content used within the instruction sheets is copied directly from Prusa materials and handbooks but the Manufacturer uses a copyright message that the material is theirs. I find that dishonest or maybe just an oversite but it's not right.
Will continue to test other materials over the next several days and will keep people posted.
If anyone wants to see a specific material let me know and I'll see if I have the filament around.
Edit: Here's the picture of the 3rd test after blasting the sheet with compressed air.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xVF96ISIe_Yz9aNK9M_RsSjFFzl7H2EU/view?usp=sharing
I was on the assumption that the plate would be somewhat a sealed surface. This seems porous and not sealed PEI like. Then again I don't have a Prusa plate to compare it to. I will be doing some more testing on this product so stay tuned. It does show promise. Time will tell
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
As an FYI, the plates are back in stock on Amazon.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
As an FYI, the plates are back in stock on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CXV5W2W
Yea they have been selling out fast every time. I'm surprised we haven't seen or heard from more people that have them to explain their experiences with them.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Is the coating uniformly applied? The first layer in Kev31779's video has me wondering?
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Is the coating uniformly applied? The first layer in Kev31779's video has me wondering?
It appears so visually but I cannot say for sure on a thickness level.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Is the coating uniformly applied? The first layer in Kev31779's video has me wondering?
It appears so visually but I cannot say for sure on a thickness level.
Early opinion... thumbs up or down and would you purchase again?
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Is the coating uniformly applied? The first layer in Kev31779's video has me wondering?
My current plate is 1.1-1.2mm while the new one is .58-.60
Of course I could only measure in as far as my caliper would allow but I agree with Kevin that visually it looks very uniform.
When looking straight down you see lots of shiny bits which I initially thought was the sheet below the PEI but it may be reflections from the grit used to give it texture but I'm not sure.
I had a print a few things that were backed up waiting for this sheet and when you use black filament the bottom surface approaches the finish of the Prusa parts on my MK3.
As for if I would purchase again, that's still up in the air. If the flecks truly are the coating coming off then no, I would not buy again. The plates are expensive when compared to Prusa's prices but then again, I can't buy a Prusa sheet!
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
I forgot to note that I printed with PETG and it works well. Does not stick as well as the orginal sheet and I had to use a 5mm brim to keep the item attached. The first one failed after about 10mm.
Re: Steel build plates - A rant!
Is the coating uniformly applied? The first layer in Kev31779's video has me wondering?
It appears so visually but I cannot say for sure on a thickness level.
Early opinion... thumbs up or down and would you purchase again?
I would like to get a lot more testing on it before I would be comfortable making a call like that. Let the groups results and testing that purchased one lead your decisions. There were no reviews of this when I bought it and wish I had been able to see it in action. I had only a short time to build on it last night so its to early for me. I wanted to show everyone what these plates were like and to leave that decision up to you. I really want to flow some more PETG and different size objects on it. I hope to test that out tonight If I have time. Considering the few options for build plates out there. I don't have much to compare it against. I know that was not very helpful for you at the moment but that's all I got right now.