Parts not sticking to bed  

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

In what type of filament?

If you are having stick issues, you can always close up the calibration gap by 0.05mm or so, such that the first layer is really well pressed down.

Peter

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

PLA. It seems to press down the first layer good, but the surface just isn't that tacky, and after the part is about 2-3mm high, it kicks it off the bed. Am I using to much glue? Too little? Does the bed temp need to be higher than 50deg?

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

I use blue tape for PLA and don't have any stick issues; however, I would advise the following:

Clean the glass and apply 2 layers of glue stick

Recalibrate the Z axis and than raise the bed very slightly

Pre-heat bed to 60 degrees, wait for the temperature to get to this, then wait another 2 to 3 minutes and start the print.

Peter

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

Blue tape? Do you have a link?

Okay, I'll give it a shot. Thanks 🙂

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

50mm wide blue painter's tape example here: http://ooznest.co.uk/Consumables/Tapes/3M-Scotch-Blue-Tape

Peter

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

So forgive a stupid question, but is that double sided tape? If not, I assume you sick it down to the glass...if so, how do you get the PLA to stick to the backside of the tape?

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

No it's not double-sided. It's simple a "magic" painter's (masking) tape, found to have worked extremely well for sticking PLA to a printer build plate.

Only certain makes work, though, and after sticking to the build plate, it should be wiped over with isopropyl alcohol.

Peter

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

I have almost no experience with 3D printing so far, but what about the idea of having the slicer add a 1-2mm brim to the print to increase the surface area contacting the bed?

That sounds like a quick and dirty way to help with those items that have tiny footprints, although it will require a little clean up to remove the brim after the print.

Roger

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

Thanks for the tips guys! For now, I just increased the size of the parts to give me more surface area, and that seems to be working. 🙂

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

I had problems with sticking to the bed.Now, I use two layers of glue , tiny amount of PLA juice and top it up with hairspray when not heated. . I only use glue on the space I am going to be using for the print size, so I save a lot on the glue.After each print I top up the same.

After 3-4 prints, I wash and clean the glass under hot water tap.Works well all the time for PLA and ABS

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

I had some problems with bed adhesion but I've now started using Elmars's Disappearing Purple glue stick which has solved all the problems.

http://elmers.com/product/detail/E543

It works for both ABS and PLA.

The way I apply it is:-

- Apply 1 coat of glue.
- Rotate glass plate 90 degrees and apply another coat.
- Wait 5mins for the purple glue to turn clear.
- Repeat first 2 steps.
- Put glass plate on heatbed and start preheating.
- Printing can start as soon as the final layer of glue has gone from purple to clear.

The glue is usually good for about 2 or 3 prints then the glue just washes off with warm water and the glass plate is ready for reuse.

I've found this method to be very reliable. If I want to remove any doubt that there will be a problem with adhesion then I just clean the plate and reapply the glue before I start that particular print.

When using this method with ABS the parts just pop off on their own once the bed starts to cool and with PLA a light push at the base of the print makes it pop right off.

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

I second what Markus has said, I have great success with the Elmers Purple glue stick. Almost never have a issue with adhesion using it. And the sticks themselves last a LONG time. Use it every time when using PLA, and if im printing ABS , ill just add a very light spritz of ABS juice and have had awesome success.

Re: Parts not sticking to bed

Nice guys. I'll give those a try too. I have been having great luck so far with the blue painters tape. I like it because I don't ever really have to take the glass off and clean it.