Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
Hi,
I have a Prusa MK3S+ with the included Smooth Steel Sheet. I have Hatchbox TPU (Shore 95A) arriving in a couple of days. Is there a way to print TPU on the Smooth Steel Sheet, without having to purchase the Textured Sheet? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Best Answer by JoanTabb:
yes you can use the prusa glue stick,
or you can use talcum powder rubbed in really well, and all of the loose powder rubbed off,
or you can use finger grease as a barrier to over adhesion.
And if a print gets really well stuck, dribble IPA around the print, on the build plate, let it soak a while, and try to remove again!
935g relates to the gross spool weight when new. so if the spool contains 800g of filament the spool weighs 135g, this allows you to estimate filament remaining, by weight.
regards joan
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
There is a magigoo stick to use for flexible filament on PEI sheets. I works like a charm
https://magigoo.sg/products/magigoo-flex-the-3d-printing-adhesive-for-tpu-tpe-tpc
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
Can I use the gluestick that comes with my MK3S+? The gluestick you linked to is about $40, and a textured bed is about $50.
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
yes you can use the prusa glue stick,
or you can use talcum powder rubbed in really well, and all of the loose powder rubbed off,
or you can use finger grease as a barrier to over adhesion.
And if a print gets really well stuck, dribble IPA around the print, on the build plate, let it soak a while, and try to remove again!
935g relates to the gross spool weight when new. so if the spool contains 800g of filament the spool weighs 135g, this allows you to estimate filament remaining, by weight.
regards joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
Thank you for the advice! I will try the included glue stick and post my results when the TPU arrives.
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
Sure you can use the glue stick. Another good option is Layerneer bed weld.
But make sure you use some kind of separating agent or the phrase "great adhesion" will take on a very new meaning for you. I've learned it the hard way...
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
if you use glue stick, I believe you can use a tissue with isopropyl alcohol, to smooth the glue out...
never tried it myself!
Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
I will be sure to try that. Thank you!
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
Something to think about down the road.. if you do any amount of TPU and PETG is the rough sheet.. I use it for TPU and just swipe the Prusa glue stick over the area I will print and it comes off pretty good. You have to wait for it to cool. Maybe use some water to dissolve glue if it is stubborn. The rough sheet is so much better for PETG than the smooth.. that is why I mention.
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
I just received my TPU and started printing with it before I realized that I should put the glue stick on. So now, my print is stuck to my smooth sheet and I can't get it off! Any help would be appreciated.
RE:
You were too enthousiastic!!
Ok you have 60% chance to damage the PEI sheet with the next step.
What I did in the past is to take the kind of pliers you got with the printer and pinch the edge of the TPU model and very slowly, gently, softly tried to roll the model on the edge of the pliers. just as if you were rolling a spaghetti on a fork.
You might see the PEI layer of the sheet being lifted a bit (it's normal). The pull must be as parallel to the sheet as you can. The more the pull is vertical the more you risk to damage the sheet by peeling the PEI.
And you don't care if the model is damaged. It will probably be less damaged than you might expect.
I've no idea if Isopropanol might help or not.
Tell us if you succeeded.
Good luck!!
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
That's exactly what I ended up doing!
RE: Printing TPU on Smooth Sheet on MK3S+?
Did the sheet supported the "treatment"??
RE:
Thank you for all your help! I used the glue stick and dissolved it into the bed with some IPA, and it worked perfectly, and even before I did that, my print bed only suffered about 2mm of damage.
RE:
@3DCoded, magigoo.sg is the Singapore website in Singapore dollars, hence the S$40 price point, it's the equivalent of EUR 21.00 or USD 25.00... and one stick is good for 100 print beds.
Can I use the gluestick that comes with my MK3S+? The gluestick you linked to is about $40, and a textured bed is about $50.