Hi hello!
I’m having a little trouble in sticking the PLA in my REPLICATOR Z18 bed. I’ve used the raft option, but it didn’t worked. I’m making a star CAD and the tips of the star just contract in the middle of the printing, and ruining the model. Please help, it is for my job work.
Thanks!
I use http://3dlac.com from spain on glass.
Some guys use normal hairspray.
http://www.3dlac.com/
Do you have tape down? If not a healthy coating of ultra hold aerosol hairspray works on my glass plate.
Use blue painters tape on your bed. 3M brand works well for me.
I have used that tape, and the PLA didn’t stick almost at all. The bed of Replicator Z18 does not stick well for my star project…
I’m trying to make this model
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:579088
More importantly, blue tape + something to treat the surface of the tape. I’ve used alcohol to clean the wax off and get good adhesion, but lately I’ve been using a light spray of hairspray on blue tape. You also have to have the very first layer height perfect…too low and the plastic won’t extrude (possibly plugging the nozzle), too high and it won’t stick.
For the makerbot fifth generation printers, I’d recommend coating the bed in purple Elmers glue stick.
Thanks for all your replies, i’ll try those suggestions later, i’ll give feedback!
I have been building printers and printing with ABS and PLA for a couple of years. I have tried everything to promote model adhesion and hands down the best solution that I have found for glass beds or beds covered with Kapton Tape is extra hold hair spay in the purple can.
It works so well that if you are not careful it produces the opposite effect in that it is difficult to remove the model from the bed.
On new fresh glass apply a thin coat when the bed is cold. Then, heat the bed and when it starts to get hot give it another thin coat.
Do a test print to check adhesion and give it another thin coat only if needed.
Also agree hairspray on a glass bed sticks brilliantly if you can heat the buildplate to about 40’C even better.
Thank tou all, but i don’t have any glass bed, my bed is the bed from replicator z18 which is some kind of plastic I don’t know for sure.
@Joao_Rodrigues did your Z18 came with a black adhesive that you had to install? If so, it is called buildtak. It’s a new type of product specially designed for 3ad printing. Is this your first print or have you printed already? If you have already printed a lot you need to replace it
Ariel, i’ve installed the adhesive, and haven’t done any printing that went well…do you suggest to put some glue stick in the surface of the adhesive?
Joao, I’d recommend using Elmers glue stick. I might also recommend applying it on top of a layer of blue tape.
@Joao_Rodrigues No. Go to http://buildtak.com an follow the instructions on how to print with it. I will also recommend trying downloading the new Makerbot software as there is a new option for the Z18 where you can adjust the Z height. Look for the release notes on that for more info. That would also help you because the buildtak is very good surface but if it’s not perfectly leveled it does work.