SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Reflections on the mirror

Re: Reflections on the mirror

2016-02-24T13:42:34Z

you can still get boxes of six 12" by 12" mirror tiles at most home improvement centers for around $10-15 (depending on location). pick up a cheap glass cutter at the same time and you are off to the races.

when I first discovered the use of glass for the bed, I dug out an old box of these mirror tiles that I had lying around from other projects (used to do custom etching/engraving). Cut one to size and have been using them ever since. I currently have 4 printers, all with mirror tile beds and couldn't be happier.

as for how many you can get per tile... depends on the bed size. 200x200 only gets 1 per tile.

Re: Reflections on the mirror

2016-02-23T18:26:04Z

I use mirror tiles from the 70's off ebay. You can get them in a 6 pack and get two beds worth from each tile. They have the hard silver coating.

Reflections on the mirror

2016-02-23T17:48:57Z

Two thoughts. If you buy a mirror for a print bed, it likely has a sticker and/or rubber pads on the back. Get those off and the gum too. Goof Off Pro or acetone should get it. Any gunk left on the mirror back will insulate or cause an air gap between the mirror and the heated bed and maybe slow warm ups, uneven heat and part warping.

Have a second mirror on hand to "hot swap" when the first on gets gunked up. Place the second mirror on the heated bed to warm while you clean up the first mirror. When you come back, the second miror will be hot and ready to print, saving you a few minutes.