What sheets to add for beginner?
I am thinking about ordering a Core One in May or June. This would be my first 3D printer for the learning journey and beyond.
I notice that three different build sheets or plates are available. How do people learn which sheet to order or which sheet to
use for what purpose? Is there a "getting started" document that suggests what accessories are useful for what purposes?
It would help a little with shipping costs if I order everything at one time.
Thanks for any mentoring / sharing.
Neal
RE: What sheets to add for beginner?
Lots of information here:
https://help.prusa3d.com/article/flexible-steel-sheets-guidepost_2195
The printer comes with a smooth sheet. People seem to like the satin sheets as you can print most of the common materials directly on it. I've made do with smooth sheets for a couple of years and just use a glue stick when necessary but have some satin sheets on order.
The sheets are considered consumable although with care they should last a long time.
RE: What sheets to add for beginner?
I used to run the PEI that came with my MK3, but nowdays its almost only the sating sheet on everything. It happens that I use the PEI if its really cold and a very challenging print that need some extra adhesion to the bed.
RE: What sheets to add for beginner?
Check out the material guide which sheets are good for which material: https://help.prusa3d.com/filament-material-guide
- Satin is the best for the most of the time.
- Smooth PEI is nice if you want to have glossy bottom layer of your PLA print.
- Textured is great for TPU or if you specifically want textured look of the bottom layer.
RE: What sheets to add for beginner?
Satin is my default sheet for day-to-day printing. Works with (almost) anything. Haven't used smooth in forever, I just don't care for the look of it with the visible filament lines. For most of what I sell I use the textured sheet as the look of it feels the least "3d printed-ish".
And yeah, look at the materials table to see what sheet works well with what filament lest you want to turn it into a "consumable" much quicker than you like 🙂
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: What sheets to add for beginner?
I got a satin sheet and I'm very happy with it
RE:
I use satin for 95% of my prints, and 5% textured for all my TPU prints and some PETG prints. (Note that TPU is arguably the most difficult material to print with so definitively not beginner friendly). I don't use the smooth sheets because I find that the very smooth surface to not be that appealing. Also, smooth sheets have more of a tendency (in my opinion) to leave imprints from other previous prints, which doesn't look so good.
RE:
I've made my banged up smooth sheet a bit rough with some 400 Sandpaper (wet!).
It's by far the grippiest plate for PLA and I like the completely flat, but still slightly rough surface on the prints. Great for prints with very small 1st layer surfaces or when textured/satin would be too rough for the tolerances.
Biqu Frostbite is rough and super shiny, quite weird, but nice grip! My rough smooth sheet has more grip though, when printing at 60° (PLA)
Textured sheet is very textured (but no visible lines, which is awesome) and satin is the perfect mix of "looking decent", great grip and kinda flat surface.
Imo, everyone should have a smooth sheet and a textured sheet. However the Satin sheet is a great mix.
Additionally: Printing with the plate at low temperatures is nice, but the warping can be awful, depending on the object. So I very rarely do it.
My personal experience regarding grip strength against curling up edges for PLA:
1. Rough smooth sheet
2. Satin/Biqu Frostbite
3. Textured
4. Carbon/Diamond textured sheet
My fresh smooth sheet is a mixed bag. It either grips massively or kinda badly. I'm yet to find out how to predict that.