Printed PLA part almost imposible to remove  

Re: Printed PLA part almost imposible to remove

After damaging my PEI sheet pulling a print off, I invested in some 'freeze' spray - used to cool electrical components down, if you give the base of your part a good spraying to cool it down it will shrink fractionally which is enough to free it (usually)

Not cheap, it's around 13 UKP a tin - but pretty effective - not sure where you are, but I got mine off eBay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maplin-Freezer-Spray-400ml-Reduces-Surface-Temperature-Rapid-Evaporation-Aerosol/191199883118?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Regards

Chris

Re: Printed PLA part almost imposible to remove

You can try also compressed air spray. It is much cheaper and can work as well.

Thank you,

Re: Printed PLA part almost imposible to remove

Commonly spatula is used to pull off the print. Guides sais put the spatula under the corner and try to pull....
For me this is worst solution, trying to pull of the print always makes small holes in the PEI sheet.
Once I was not able to take it down, I saw that the only option is to damage the PEI sheet. I read the guide how to replace the PEI sheet and was quite sure, that I really do not want to do that.
Finally I tried insted of pulling the fillament up off the bed with spatula, to hit the filament from the side with the spatula. In fact, I layed the spatula on the bed nearly horizontal (20°?) and move it quite fast but not with brute power to hit the down edge of the filament. It just jumped out of the bed. Everything survived.
I thought that this is just an option in worst case, but finally I considered this as the most soft way and do not use anything else.
I do this almost an year, bed is fine, still the first PEI sheet. The bearings maybe do not like it, but pulling off the filament with quite power is also not very gentl. Just do not forget to have motors off, so if you hit the object and it does not pop off, the bed just move a little bit. And you try again.
I hold the print in hand a little bit, so the bed is not moving back so fast in case the print does not pop up. I also recommend hitting straight in Y axis so the bed can move back freely and you are not demaging bearings. Sure by hitting the print, you can slightly damage the object, usually the first perimetr on the first layer is damaged. But this damage is for me much smaller then when trying to pull off.
For bigger objects, I hit first so the object pop off on the side a bit and then place the spatula under and go arround the object slowly.
And sure, do it if you consider this advatageous for you, do not call me if you damage something 🙂

Re: Printed PLA part almost imposible to remove

i started to design a small notch into my objects so that i can get some leverage with a flathead screwdriver. this works really well for me and doesn't need much force.

but i am really looking forward to the new removable and bendable mk3 metal pei sheet. it looks like a much better solution.