Steel build plates - A rant!  

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Now that the Prusa store has PEI sheets for sale, does anyone know of a good steel build plate that matches the original one (size/notches)? I know there are the buildtak ones, but I would rather just have an extra build plate exactly like the one that comes with the MK3.

The buildtak flexplate, namely the 241x254 has the notches and is of the size of the prusa variant. Only the corner radius is a bit smaller.

From the website
===
Suitable for:
• Prusa MK3
- - The FlexPlate does not include a BuildTak surface.
- - The applicable surface size is 254 x 228 mm.
===

The Build-Tak flex plate is definitely a worthy replacement for the Prusa sheet. As for the Build-Tak print surface, it's growing on me. Stuff sticks to it like crazy and I was always afraid to use it because I read it's easy'ish to damage. The past week I decided to throw caution to the wind and if I destroy the print surface so be it, I'll peel it and stick a sheet of PEI on it. I have say it appears to be holding up well and if I get six months out of it, it will become my primary print surface as I really like the textured first layer. What I did last night was to put the second sheet of Build-Tak print surface on the bed side of the sheet, I know they say not to but the scars on my bed from before I polished the flex-plate are arcing through the nail polish and into the steel sheet so I figured it's better to have some sort of insulation there...

Haven't used mine yet. However it seems the edges of the bottom of the buildtak flexplate need smoothing before one should place it on the heatbed, . I would just use a PEI sheet of PRUSA on one side and the buildtak sheet on the other to try it.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

The buildtak flexplate, namely the 241x254 has the notches and is of the size of the prusa variant. Only the corner radius is a bit smaller.

From the website
===
Suitable for:
• Prusa MK3
- - The FlexPlate does not include a BuildTak surface.
- - The applicable surface size is 254 x 228 mm.
===

The Build-Tak flex plate is definitely a worthy replacement for the Prusa sheet. As for the Build-Tak print surface, it's growing on me. Stuff sticks to it like crazy and I was always afraid to use it because I read it's easy'ish to damage. The past week I decided to throw caution to the wind and if I destroy the print surface so be it, I'll peel it and stick a sheet of PEI on it. I have say it appears to be holding up well and if I get six months out of it, it will become my primary print surface as I really like the textured first layer. What I did last night was to put the second sheet of Build-Tak print surface on the bed side of the sheet, I know they say not to but the scars on my bed from before I polished the flex-plate are arcing through the nail polish and into the steel sheet so I figured it's better to have some sort of insulation there...

Haven't used mine yet. However it seems the edges of the bottom of the buildtak flexplate need smoothing before one should place it on the heatbed, . I would just use a PEI sheet of PRUSA on one side and the buildtak sheet on the other to try it.

Absolutely put something on both sides and from extra precaution polish the edges before you put any print surface on it. I think my problem with Build-Tak is that I was used to the ease of popping parts off PEI while Build-Tak is a b!)&@ to get parts off. I finally adopted a screw it attitude and started using a spatula, Swiss Army knife or brute force to remove parts and I’m finding the surface seems to hold up well. I definitely like the texture better than PEI so I’m primarily printing on Build-Tak now.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

I would be careful with brute force. I did damage my original Prusa PEI steel sheet on one side, i.e. a part did go with the item printed. Still being too careful doesnt help either 🙂

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

I would be careful with brute force. I did damage my original Prusa PEI steel sheet on one side, i.e. a part did go with the item printed. Still being too careful doesnt help either 🙂

Knocking on wood... I've been pretty lucky with the PEI sheet, mine's around 3 months old has at least a hundred prints on it and with the exception of the priming line looks almost pristine. The Build-Tak took a turn for the worse last night but that's due to the live z bug in the firmware, shame on me for not catching it. I now have a nice scar on one side of my build sheet...

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

I've been putting some tape over the edge where the priming line is going, makes it easier to remove that part and keeps that part clean. Am still using my custom steel sheet, really just can't fault it.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Has anyone tried out the BuildTak PEI sheets?

I saw them on their website just today. Just curious about that as opposed to Prusa PEI.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Yes I have the buildtak on my printer.

They are better and worse at the same time. The print really sticks too much on the bed, so for small parts it`s really hard to remove the print from the sheet. You can also get something like a white film on the bottom surface of a print (specially annoying when you print something in black).
I have a second steel sheet from buildtak and PEI sheets from Prusa, so I have a spare PEI sheet now that works the best for me.

But the good thing is, that you can order spare sheets (they are more expensive than the prusa ones) and have a alternative solution when something crashes the original sheet (as happened on mine while printing XT filament).

That`s just my personal opinion, a lot of users are really happy with the buildtak sheets, I am also very happy with it, but it works better with the PEI film on it from my point of view.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

oh please. depending on when you ordered you either got a voucher or were informed of the situation and offered the chance to wait or cancel.

I don't think they gave out vouchers. I was promised a voucher but never received one.

(I am not angry at Prusa for not delivering, but if I am told that I will be offered a discount on a product, I am gonna want the discount)

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

(I am not angry at Prusa for not delivering, but if I am told that I will be offered a discount on a product, I am gonna want the discount)

I'd imagine vouchers will be dispensed when they have a firm time table on the release of the powder coated build plate.

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,

How's your plate holding up? I see they're no longer available on Amazon but am still curious about the durability of the plate.

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,

How's your plate holding up? I see they're no longer available on Amazon but am still curious about the durability of the plate.

So far it has been holding up fine. I didn't have any issue with it breaking or anything yet. I also do not have much time on it. Seems to work fairly well for me. I always let the plate cool before trying to remove the parts. It removed fairly easy without damage when cool. I noticed they were unavailable for a few days now so I don't know what is going on there. Maybe they have a backlog of orders. Or something else, no idea.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

They are better and worse at the same time. The print really sticks too much on the bed, so for small parts it`s really hard to remove the print from the sheet. You can also get something like a white film on the bottom surface of a print (specially annoying when you print something in black).

Those might be stress marks. Try giving the affected area of your print a quick pass with a hair dryer or heat gun and see if it goes away.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Yes I tried that and it worked well.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

So still no word on Prusa selling replacement sheets individually?
My Kit is (at last) shipping this week with the smooth sheet but would like to order a powder-coated sheet ASAP. I understand Kits and assembled units which decided not to change to smooth will have priority but would still be willing to go on to (another) waiting list for the powder-coated sheet.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Nope, No word yet. I don't even see the standard PEI versions being sold on the store let alone the coated ones your seeking to buy. Those who've ordered their printer with the coated sheets haven't as far as I know received them yet so I suspect you'll be waiting a while for those to release on the store. For now I just keep plugging away on my cheap Chinese printer waiting for the mk3 to come (hopefully before I go on vacation 😆 ).

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Edit: I posted a reply farther down, but here it is too: Until talking to a rep, I didn't know that I needed to 1) Be logged in, and 2) Have at least one MK3 tied to my login in order to be able to see the MK3 spare parts. Without that, only 8 components were visible in the 3d Printer Parts section of the website store.

Old thread, but I'll throw another one onto the pile: Yes, I want to buy replacement steel plates.

I'm using two of these printers (i3 MK3) in a commercial/industrial environment for producing jigs, conveyor guides, and marketing demo prototypes, soon to have a third one, and I have one of my own at home.

I've seen the directions for the process of replacing the PEI sheet... that's not suitable for a commercial environment. That's quite time-consuming, especially for what looks to be a semi-consumable component. (There's the fine line between getting a print to stick well, and getting it to stick too well, such that it either rips off some of the PEI when detaching it, or thin parts that require scraping to remove them - they're more flexible than the steel plate is, so they won't pop loose.)
Unfortunately, it's got to be faster and cheaper to scrap the entire steel+PEI sheet and get a whole new one.

I would also like to be able to order a textured sheet to try out with PLA prints. PETG sticks quite well to the smooth PEI sheet, sometimes too well, but PLA..... it does stick, but it's not a strong adhesion, so prints have a habit of peeling or letting go prematurely. (I've tried dialing down the z-height for the first layer, up until the filament feeder started skipping because I was too close to the bed, then dialed it back from there.)

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Old thread, but I'll throw another one onto the pile: Yes, I want to buy replacement steel plates.

I'm using two of these printers (i3 MK3) in a commercial/industrial environment for producing jigs, conveyor guides, and marketing demo prototypes, soon to have a third one, and I have one of my own at home.

I've seen the directions for the process of replacing the PEI sheet... that's not suitable for a commercial environment. That's quite time-consuming, especially for what looks to be a semi-consumable component. (There's the fine line between getting a print to stick well, and getting it to stick too well, such that it either rips off some of the PEI when detaching it, or thin parts that require scraping to remove them - they're more flexible than the steel plate is, so they won't pop loose.)
Unfortunately, it's got to be faster and cheaper to scrap the entire steel+PEI sheet and get a whole new one.

I would also like to be able to order a textured sheet to try out with PLA prints. PETG sticks quite well to the smooth PEI sheet, sometimes too well, but PLA..... it does stick, but it's not a strong adhesion, so prints have a habit of peeling or letting go prematurely. (I've tried dialing down the z-height for the first layer, up until the filament feeder started skipping because I was too close to the bed, then dialed it back from there.)

Looks like you can? https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/mk3-printer-parts/216-spring-steel-sheet-smooth-pei.html

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Old thread, but I'll throw another one onto the pile: Yes, I want to buy replacement steel plates.

I'm using two of these printers (i3 MK3) in a commercial/industrial environment for producing jigs, conveyor guides, and marketing demo prototypes, soon to have a third one, and I have one of my own at home.

I've seen the directions for the process of replacing the PEI sheet... that's not suitable for a commercial environment. That's quite time-consuming, especially for what looks to be a semi-consumable component. (There's the fine line between getting a print to stick well, and getting it to stick too well, such that it either rips off some of the PEI when detaching it, or thin parts that require scraping to remove them - they're more flexible than the steel plate is, so they won't pop loose.)
Unfortunately, it's got to be faster and cheaper to scrap the entire steel+PEI sheet and get a whole new one.

I would also like to be able to order a textured sheet to try out with PLA prints. PETG sticks quite well to the smooth PEI sheet, sometimes too well, but PLA..... it does stick, but it's not a strong adhesion, so prints have a habit of peeling or letting go prematurely. (I've tried dialing down the z-height for the first layer, up until the filament feeder started skipping because I was too close to the bed, then dialed it back from there.)

Looks like you can? https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/mk3-printer-parts/216-spring-steel-sheet-smooth-pei.html

Yes, I learned of this too. After doing the online chat with a rep, I was told that I needed to be 1) Logged in, and 2) Have a MK3 in the order history.
The printers we ordered were done with a guest login (I generally don't like compulsory login for simple purchases - more logins, more passwords, more data stored somewhere else), so there was no printer in my order history. There was no indication on the basic website that more parts were even available, and I never had any reason to log in, so I didn't know there were hidden portions of the website. The Spare Parts section only showed me 8 different items.

So it looks like this is ok now, I can in fact get what I'm after.

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

Yes, I learned of this too. After doing the online chat with a rep, I was told that I needed to be 1) Logged in, and 2) Have a MK3 in the order history.
The printers we ordered were done with a guest login (I generally don't like compulsory login for simple purchases - more logins, more passwords, more data stored somewhere else), so there was no printer in my order history. There was no indication on the basic website that more parts were even available, and I never had any reason to log in, so I didn't know there were hidden portions of the website. The Spare Parts section only showed me 8 different items.

So it looks like this is ok now, I can in fact get what I'm after.

I did the chat before placing an order. Created my account, rep enabled ordering replacement parts for the MK3 on the account and I placed one order containing the MK3 with TXT sheet, a replacement PEI sheet and the hardened steel nozzle. The entire order is on backorder now because of the TXT sheet, but that was exactly what was intended.

Let's see how accurate the two week lead time guesstimate is.

Regards, Jan

Re: Steel build plates - A rant!

The entire order is on backorder now because of the TXT sheet, but that was exactly what was intended.

Let's see how accurate the two week lead time guesstimate is.

The backorder is par for the course. Itr is expected.

Two weeks is an estimate but the estimates are not far off today.