Garolite directly on the bed
I'm most likely never going to use a textured bed and I recently picked up a Layerlock garolite bed. Could I simply just remove the adhesive from the back and apply it to the heated bed? Would it be better if I just apply it to the smooth spring steel sheet?
RE: Garolite directly on the bed
I can't comment on the efficacy of Garolite, but definitely apply it to a smooth spring steel sheet. That way the printer functions properly as intended and you still have the flexibility to use other sheet types in the future.
Other forum members may give you more insightful advice. 😀
Cheers,
Tim
RE: Garolite directly on the bed
Useful thread here: https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-hardware-firmware-and-software-help/garolite-bed-crashes/
Cheers,
Tim
RE: Garolite directly on the bed
You need a steel sheet for the PINDA to work. But there is a limit on how low you can place the PINDA. So, there is a limit on the thickness of the garolite too.
I use the BuildTak one and it works.
RE: Garolite directly on the bed
I don't know about Garolite, but I use a Pertinax sheet ( https://www.masterplatex.de/Hartpapier-Platten-braun) with 0.5mm height glued on an uncoated steel sheet ( https://fermio.de/spring-steel-sheet-prusa-mk52-254-x-241-mm/).
I think Garolite is similar to Pertinax, where Garolite is the US name and Pertinax is the German name or so.
This Pertinax sheet works great, even better than PEI sheet. Even Nylon does stick without any adhesives.
RE:
Unless I'm totally mistaken, what it's known as Garolite in the U.S is called FR4 almost everywhere else. Just ordinary fiber glass plates, as used for making printed circuit boards, but without copper layers of course. Also, as has been said in this thread, for using Garolite/FR4 plates on a Prusa with a Super Pinda sensor, anything above 0.5mm in thickness would be difficult to set up. On the other part, very thin plates of 0.2 - 0.3mm. are probably too fragile and might crack easily if bent. So, plates of 0.5mm, thick seem to be the soft spot.
RE: Garolite directly on the bed
Actually, FR4 is a fire rating. It refers to how long a material can be exposed to a certain heat before it will catch fire. It's often specified for materials used in places like elevator shafts, where you don't want a fire that can use the shaft as a chimney.
Garolite is a brand name of the material used to make epoxy-fiberglass circuit boards.