PEI Sheet glue removal  

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

I too am unable to buy Limonene locally.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131782288443?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&var=431152942013&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Peter

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

I buy my Limonene off of Amazon.com and it is 100% food grade vs. your link providing a 96% version.

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Aaron

OK, you use a slightly better quality limonene than me, but the one I linked does work and they claim to ship worldwide.

Peter

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

I managed to get the glue off using IsoPropyl Alcohol. But now that I have installed the replacement Ultem sheet, nothing will stick on the bed. I have tried both ABS and PLA and was up till 4 A.M. trying to figure out why my prints won't stick.

I have played around with live Z adjustment, Temperature of bed, temperature of nozzle, window cleaner, alcohol and all kinds of things. All my prints fail to stick. I used the free spare sheet that came with the printer. Any idea what is going on?

Edit: printer was printing fine before replacing the sheet.

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Hilmi

Did you start again - Self test/XYZ Calibration/V2Calibration?

Peter

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

This stuff works as well - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evo-Stik-191-Adhesive-Cleaner/dp/B0001P03M4/ Much cheaper too.

I followed the Prusa instructions ans substituted this for the Limonene. after 40mins the glue was like a jelly and came off easily. A quick wipe with the cleaner on a cloth got the last few bits off.

edit: if you are in the UK this is the cheapest I can see. http://www.diy.com/departments/evo-stik-external-adhesive-cleaner-250ml/254737_BQ.prd

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Thanks Peter, you were right, it was the calibration. I had performed it after re-installing the heating bed but it seems the calibration was corrupt. Re-running the calibration fixed the problem. It now works as expected.

Thanks for the help and support

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Seems I was wrong. After one print out again no adhesion. 🙁

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Try Turpentine, it is very close to Limonene chemically and organic as Limonene is . It will work and is cheap and more readily available.

Why are some of us now getting first layer adhesion problems. Has the PEI sheet reached a wear problem? Or an endemic problem with settings/firmware

My favourite adhesion material is Printbite. I have it installed on my Ultimaker 2+ and my Hobbyking Fabrikator Large < another wonderful 3D printer. I get no problems with it. Every now and then an IsoPropyl clean to remove any fingerprints or other grease. Both of these printers are manually bed levelled. Once set rarely need to adjust. < both these printers printed out of the box accurately after my holiday. The only printers I have trouble with is those that use auto levelling.

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

The PEI sheet is quite sensitive to contaminates, so make sure it's being cleaned with 99% or higher IPA alcohol.

Merv, are you saying you're observing reduced adhesion even when using 99% IPA?

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Has the PEI sheet reached a wear problem?
I don't think so. It is too soon. Actually I'm starting to have exactly the opposite problem - the longer I use my PEI sheet the more it sticks. I use IPA for bed cleaning. I get into troubles removing prints from the bed. I was forced to deliberately lower the adhesion few times using some noname window cleaner to be able to get subsequent PLA prints off the bed easily.

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

I have finally figured out what was the problem. I have not yet fully fixed the printer, but it is at least working now with both ABS and PLA. Removing the Ultem sheet had resulted in the frame shifting position. The entire bed was tilted to one side more than 1.5 mm. This was too much even for the calibration routine to compensate for. Now everything is working, I just need to fine tune my Live Z setting. That is not very easy to do as it seems all the ABS filaments I have ordered are slightly transparent and it is hard to tell if the live Z setting is at the correct height. Thank you all for your support

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Has the PEI sheet reached a wear problem?
I don't think so. It is too soon. Actually I'm starting to have exactly the opposite problem - the longer I use my PEI sheet the more it sticks. I use IPA for bed cleaning. I get into troubles removing prints from the bed. I was forced to deliberately lower the adhesion few times using some noname window cleaner to be able to get subsequent PLA prints off the bed easily.
If you're having trouble removing prints, consider printing a razor blade scraper handle. I use one a with a double-edged razor blade to get between the print and the PEI sheet (just a few mm is enough, you just need to get something between the PEI and your first layer, do not use the blade to lift the object) .

When the blade is under the print, then I slide my proper scraper under the blade to gently lift the prints off the sheet.

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

Has the PEI sheet reached a wear problem?
I don't think so. It is too soon. Actually I'm starting to have exactly the opposite problem - the longer I use my PEI sheet the more it sticks. I use IPA for bed cleaning. I get into troubles removing prints from the bed. I was forced to deliberately lower the adhesion few times using some noname window cleaner to be able to get subsequent PLA prints off the bed easily.

I am putting baby powder (talcum) on the bed to decrease adhesion. That is for PETG and FLEX filaments. ABS and PLA seem to have just the right adhesion on a clean PEI sheet for my prints.

Re: PEI Sheet glue removal

@simon.p Oh yeah a dose of talcum makes things less sticky , I agree 🙂

I always use 99% IPA to clean my PEI sheet on my Prusa I3 MK2 and my Printbite machines.