NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet  

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @charles-h13

@tim-m30

I apologize.  You perceived pessimism got to me but that is on me.  I don’t understand the booze comment, but then again I don’t drink.  

Have a nice day!

Sarcastic humor never comes across right in forums; but I am wired that way and have given up trying to control it.  Honestly, I never intend to be hurtful or seriously derogatory in my posts.  I'll chide someone for being stupid, but I do try to do so in a way that is more ironic than a real criticism -- we all do silly things at times.   

As for pessimistic?  Not really.  My outlook is based entirely on experience.  Been there-done that too many times to count.  Saying a business will do the right thing in all cases is a sign of insanity: businesses won't stay in business if they acted that way.  Prusa, like any other business, looks for ways to trim costs, and this sheet is an example where they might see an opportunity.  For all we know, the Mini may ship with these PLA-deficient sheets.  So no, not pessimistic: but I do have a realistic outlook.  A pessimist would say "Prusa always does the worst thing," and a realist says "Prusa may not always do the worst thing" ... lol.  An optimist says "This jump won't kill me!  Woo-hoooooooooooo...." 

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Is there any indication when these maybe available?  

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @charles-h13

PEI Sticker sheets are available from Buildtec and the ones I got front them are superior to Prusa’s.  They are Amber and very durable.  If you like sticker sheets and Prusa changes, try their pEI sheets.  

Another consideration is the adhesive used. BuildTak uses an "easy remove" formula that will make your next replacement much easier. That, plus PrintedSolid's thinner spring steel sheets are a winning combination.

That said, I've destroyed more BuildTak "original" surfaces that I've completed successful prints on. As far as I'm concerned, they're only for PLA prints.

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @chocki

From the looks of it, the PEI is bonded permanently to the sheet and not replaceable like the existing sheets, I would also hazard a guess that the sheet is first powder coated with something to make the smooth top coat adhere more strongly than plain adhesive, so no more bubbles or rips in your sheet.

This must be the smooth powder coated sheet that was announced with the original Mk3 release that was almost immediately withdrawn from sale. I'd be curious to let Charles try one out and report! 😀 After my bad experience with the textured powder-coated sheet, I'm not keen on spending the bucks without some testing, especially given the "it's a consumable" ploy support has used for obviously defective textured sheets. This has been my only gripe with Prusa support since purchasing my Mk3.

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

@bobstro

I was referring to the buildtak PEI and not the original.  I have not been able to use the Original with anything but PEI either.  It is easy to damage or a bear to remove prints with any other filaments.  Forget ABS,  

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @charles-h13

[...] I was referring to the buildtak PEI and not the original.  I have not been able to use the Original with anything but PEI either.  It is easy to damage or a bear to remove prints with any other filaments.  Forget ABS,  

Aye, understood. Their PEI sheet is quite nice. The original surface... "touchy" and easily destroyed. BuildTak's version of the spring steel sheet is suitable for body armor. Let's just say "robust".

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @bobstro

Posted by: @charles-h13

[...] I was referring to the buildtak PEI and not the original.  I have not been able to use the Original with anything but PEI either.  It is easy to damage or a bear to remove prints with any other filaments.  Forget ABS,  

Aye, understood. Their PEI sheet is quite nice. The original surface... "touchy" and easily destroyed. BuildTak's version of the spring steel sheet is suitable for body armor. Let's just say "robust".

Concur.  I have found the with PEI Sheets like the PC TXT sheets that the plastic razor bladed work well. 

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Curious discussion. I am still using my original smooth PEI sheet; same side, too. I have yet to need a new sheet (though I do own one, just in case). So I think I have no need to buy a third party sheet.  I can only print on them one at a time.  Are these Buildtac sheets textured or somehow different enough you'd want one to use for making something special?

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @tim-m30

Curious discussion. I am still using my original smooth PEI sheet; same side, too.

Oh, I've still got my original Prusa. I did manage to get some high-temp PETG welded to one surface and eventually got around to trying to replace the "removable" sticker. Rather than having to go through that again, I was looking for alternatives and noticed the BuildTak PEI stickers. If I'm going to replace another blasted sticker, I don't want to spend an evening scraping at it with a bottle of expensive Limonene. 

I have yet to need a new sheet (though I do own one, just in case). So I think I have no need to buy a third party sheet.  I can only print on them one at a time.  Are these Buildtac sheets textured or somehow different enough you'd want one to use for making something special?

The "original" BuildTak surface has a rough texture. It's rather pleasant to print PLA on -- much like the textured vinyl -- but does not hold up well to higher temps (PETG) or scraping of sticky stuff. The BuildTak PEI sticker sheet handles printing just like Prusa's and is just as smooth, but can be replaced much more easily. PrintedSolid's spring steel sheets are much thinner than Prusa's smooth PEI option, roughly the same as the textured powder-coated sheet. Very flexy and easy to use. I use this combination for "risky" material prints when I don't have a good handle on how tricky they'll be to remove.

None of this was an urgent purchase, but there was a period when Prusa didn't have the smooth sheets available and I was looking into alternatives. In doing so, I found a combination I much prefer. Now if only I could find a textured surface that performed as advertised. Have not tried The KKIINNGG or similar yet.

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

The KKIINNGG is ok.  I have decent success with it.  My original PEI is still functional with some mild damage.  I reserve it for PLA.  

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

I have to confess I purchased one of the Fysetc "textured" sheets on a whim. The damn thing seems to have friction tape bonded to it. Bits of the "texture" come off with every print. Got to give it credit though, it works with PLA!

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @bobstro

I have to confess I purchased one of the Fysetc "textured" sheets on a whim. The damn thing seems to have friction tape bonded to it. Bits of the "texture" come off with every print. Got to give it credit though, it works with PLA!

Is that the gold one?  It is a piece of crap.  

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @charles-h13

Is that the gold one?  It is a piece of crap.  

Yup. That's an understatement. But those 4 reviewers really liked it? I forgot the reason it seemed like a good idea at the time. Just noticed TheKKIINNGG sheets are only a bit more now.

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

I have two or three of those gold sheets.  I will wear them down and add a pei sheet.  

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @charles-h13

The KKIINNGG is ok.  I have decent success with it.  My original PEI is still functional with some mild damage.  I reserve it for PLA.  

I got annoyed and purchased a KKIINNGG sheet. So far, it's printing like I had hoped the Prusa sheet would. Big PLA parts are printing without warping. If I ever finish my current project (cabinet drawers & inserts) I'll try some smaller prints.

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @bobstro

Posted by: @charles-h13

The KKIINNGG is ok.  I have decent success with it.  My original PEI is still functional with some mild damage.  I reserve it for PLA.  

I got annoyed and purchased a KKIINNGG sheet. So far, it's printing like I had hoped the Prusa sheet would. Big PLA parts are printing without warping. If I ever finish my current project (cabinet drawers & inserts) I'll try some smaller prints.

What cabinet and drawers are you printing?  

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @charles-h13

What cabinet and drawers are you printing?  

I'm printing a bunch of the double-sized bins & drawers from this set. They're not really optimized -- the box for 4 drawers takes 9 hours -- but two of these stacked fit perfectly into my over-desk hutches. I need 5 wide X 2 high X 2 shelves per hutch. Every part takes the full build plate. I'm printing them in a neutral Inland brown (caramel-ish color) so I can see what's in 'em easily. It's a LOT of printing and my travel schedule is not helping.

These are the parts that trip the firmware issue with the filament sensor, so I'm having to leave it off, which is making estimating spools fun.

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Oh, what did you go and have to do that for bobstro?, now my printer is going to be busy printing boxes for my electronic components 😀 

Thanks for the warning about the filament sensor though, quick question, is yours the Mk3 or Mk3s?

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

Posted by: @chocki

Oh, what did you go and have to do that for bobstro?, now my printer is going to be busy printing boxes for my electronic components 😀 

I've been living with disorganized storage for too long, especially now that I'm starting to play with electronics bits again. These aren't a perfect design, but "good enough" for what I need. A LOT of the space in the 2 hutches is really wasted and I'm tired with living with the plastic bins Target sells.

Check out the collection that set is derived from. Plenty of options to keep you busy!

Thanks for the warning about the filament sensor though, quick question, is yours the Mk3 or Mk3s?

Mine's a Mk3 original (sounds like the Matrix). Not sure if the problem is isolated to the Mk3, but I think not. I'm really hoping for a firmware fix soon. I'm going through a lot of spools with these bins and I like to use up the last bit.

RE: NEW SMOOTH Power coated PEI sheet

I will post a link to the ones I printed.  Much better selection of drawers.