LokBuild print surface  

Re: LokBuild print surface

i haven't found any parameters for the surface thickness.
but usually these surfaces (printbite, filaprint etc.) are around 0.8mm thick.
this makes it very tricky to get the p.i.n.d.a. probe working properly at the i3 mk2(s). in many cases this simply wouldn't work without alterations related to the inductive probe (either using another probe, or messing around with the sensitivity by changing the supply voltage).

furthermore at these surfaces (like filaprint) it isn't even allowed to touch them with your fingers... otherwise they loose adhesion (and cleaning with chemicals isn't allowed as well).

but the pei sheet delivers very good adhesion (sometimes to good), if the live-z adjustment is done properly and the print surface is cleaned thoroughly.

Re: LokBuild print surface

this makes it very tricky to get the p.i.n.d.a. probe working properly at the i3 mk2(s). in many cases this simply wouldn't work without alterations related to the inductive probe (either using another probe, or messing around with the sensitivity by changing the supply voltage).
Can't you just adjust the height of the PINDA probe?
furthermore at these surfaces (like filaprint) it isn't even allowed to touch them with your fingers... otherwise they loose adhesion (and cleaning with chemicals isn't allowed as well).
That's true for the chemicals, but for LokBuild, not true for touching it. I have had my fingers all over it and never cleaned it for like 2 months now and it still holds as good as when I bought it. This is a quote from their web page:

"LokBuild should not need to be cleaned very often but if you do please use alcohol wipes or similar (low % Isopropyl). Do not use acetone or anything with a high % Isopropyl, this will damage the surface."

Re: LokBuild print surface

...Can't you just adjust the height of the PINDA probe?...
💡 yes, of course you can. but this doesn't help in many cases because of the sensitivity of the probe.
some p.i.n.d.a. probes just trigger 0.7mm above the calibration point at the printbed (@ 5.0V), and you need to have a decent height distance between tip of the nozzle and the tip of the probe (otherwise the probe would run into the printed part and kick it off the bed during the print process).

if then there are 0.8mm in addition, a short sighted probe simply won't trigger anymore.... even if you put the probe directly on the printbed.

so if you want to apply such a surface, your p.i.n.d.a. probe needs to trigger at least 0.7mm + thickness_of_sheet above the calibration points. which means about 1.5mm.... and adjustment (tip of nozzle, tip of probe) will still be a challenge. better would be about 2mm.

➡ check your probe by choosing auto home in the calibration menu (while the z adjustment is set to 0) and measure the distance between the tip of the probe and the surface of the printbed with some feeler gauges. if the space is about 1.6mm (thickness of 2 common credit cards), the chances are high that you can assemble such a surface.

Re: LokBuild print surface

if then there are 0.8mm in addition, a short sighted probe simply won't trigger anymore.... even if you put the probe directly on the printbed.

I measured the existing PEI sheet and it is .33 mm. The LokBuild is .5 mm. My plan was to remove the PEI sheet and replace it with the LokBuild. This would make it .17 mm higher.

I appreciate your input, but the original question still remains... Has anyone tried it?

Re: LokBuild print surface

about your question if anybody has tried it: don't know about the lockbuild, but other, similar surfaces were tried with different success.

according to the prusa shop (spare parts section), the pei sheet has a thickness of 0.175mm = 175µm, so i'm a little bit concerned about your measuring tools.

before ordering the lokbuild surface, i recommend to read this thread as well.
and please give a feedback here how good the replacement process and the calibration worked, so that others can gain useful information of it (somebody has to be the first...).

Re: LokBuild print surface

according to the prusa shop (spare parts section), the pei sheet has a thickness of 0.175mm = 175µm, so i'm a little bit concerned about your measuring tools.

I just checked it again with my digital caliper and it is still 0.33 mm. Maybe the replacement sheet is thinner.

Re: LokBuild print surface

i guess the thickness of the sheet is still 0.175mm, but if you measure the thickness of the heatbed with sheet and the thickness of the bed without (at the edge) and subtract the values from each other, you'll measure the adhesive layer as well.

anyway, check it out how the lockbuild will work for you and report back success and issues (if there are any).

Re: LokBuild print surface

anyway, check it out how the lockbuild will work for you and report back success and issues (if there are any).

My whole point is that I want to know if there are any known issues BEFORE I try this. If I try it and it doesn't work, best case scenario I will have order a new sheet of PEI and start over again. Worst case scenario, it may damage the printer.

Re: LokBuild print surface

My whole point is that I want to know if there are any known issues BEFORE I try this. If I try it and it doesn't work, best case scenario I will have order a new sheet of PEI and start over again. Worst case scenario, it may damage the printer.

Sometimes you have to be the first.

Re: LokBuild print surface

I use the filaprint plate on my MK2 because big PETG prints ripped of my PEI sheet and i wanted something more robust.

i works quite well, but my PINDA probe is now quite close to the printed surface.

I used filaprint on my Printrbot before and cleaned it with a damp cloth and alcohol, without negative aspects.

Re: LokBuild print surface

i works quite well, but my PINDA probe is now quite close to the printed surface.
Thanks for the reply.
Can I ask how thick the filaprint is?

Re: LokBuild print surface

I would guess 0.5 to 0.8 mm.

i can measure it when i'm at home.

(if i dont post in the next 2 Days, give me i kick, so i remember 🙄 )

Re: LokBuild print surface

(if i dont post in the next 2 Days, give me i kick, so i remember 🙄 )
Kick... 🙂

Re: LokBuild print surface

O Crap....

Re: LokBuild print surface

ok, i finally measured it. Its about 0.6 mm 😳