Finally getting some PEI for my bed. I’ve used it before on lulzbots and have loved it but never got around to it on my printers. Is 3mil enough? I feel like any thicker would create poor heat transfer.
Yes my sheet is 2 or 3mm. Works great.
Just double checked. Mine is 2 mm
I use 1mm. Thick sheets are incredibly durable. A 3mil PEI sheet is almost identical to just using kapton tape. (PEI and kapton are chemically very similar materials.)
Don’t worry too much about the heat transfer. Your print is made of plastic. Having your bed also be made of plastic shouldn’t really affect the temp profile through the print all that much. Most people just dial up the bed temp a bit to compensate.
Mine is really thin, I don’t think its even half a mm and it works great. The stuff is so tough.
Thanks for the comments guys! I think I’ll just go with the 3mil then. It caught my eye due to the price! 25cm square sheet backed with 3m for $20 shipped in the US
If I want it stick permanently to the bed I will go with the thinnest one I can find. (ex. the one that came with Prusa i3 MK2 is 175um thickness)
If I want it to be removable then I will go with a thick sheet.
Come to think of it, even if I use as removable I will still go with the thinnest one, attach to thick machined cast aluminium plate instead, cheaper and better heat distribution.
@Dont_Miyashita thats exactly what I do.
Yup it’s going on MIC6 plate and a silicone heater may underneath!
I hate having to stick it to the bed. What size thickness do I need to use just clips?
@Dovid_Teitelbaum I would go thicker in that case. I don’t know for sure but perhaps 5mm or 3mm.
A problem with thicker PEI is that it often comes with a curve in it. And if it is thick, it’s hard to get it to sit flat again. I went with 1mm and laminated it to glass.
5 mil is what you want and make sure it comes with 3M adhesive already applied, CS Hyde Company is my source.12x12 sheet with adhesive already applied $20. Under products on CS Hyde’s website has a category called 3d printing materials, Ultem PEI.
Guys, check your units. I’m pretty sure your PEI isn’t 2, 3 or 5mm thick.
@Thomas_Sanladerer 5 MIL PEI isn’t 5mm… it’s close to 150 microns. 5 MIL PEI sheet with 3M adhesive backing is 400 microns.
@Shannon_Williams that’s exactly what I’m saying. Some poor souls will read this and actually start searching for 3mm thick PEI…
@Thomas_Sanladerer My heart goes out to them :’(