SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T01:52:41Z

I definitely think the granite affords a much more even heat surface.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T01:02:30Z

That's a great tip for the glass. However I am addicted to the black print surface now. I think I will spray on a coat of black paint to my glass on the back side if I decide to go back. I think the granite will be better for large prints, and so I might just switch out as needed.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T00:29:49Z

I didn't get rid of the screws rather added a few layers of fiber glass and then a thin sheet of stainless steel I had laying around to hold the fiberglass in place. The springs are just really compressed.
I don't think you will find a spot to just poke the screws through I had the same though back when I did this and I'm glad I didn't go that route. The pad I got just doesn't have that much space between the coil wires.
As far as holding the glass I never used clips just sprayed some Aqua-Net on the bottom and it sticks to the kapton very well. It doesn't move even when a print goes bad and the extruder hits it. Yet I can easily remove it by sliding a razor blade in between the two.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T00:22:20Z

Notice that you got rid of your spring adjustment on your bed, what's that all about? Also I was hoping the heating pad would just happen to not have vital components where the screw were so I could just poke holes through it.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T00:17:13Z

I thought I really liked glass until I used my granite. I think it's really worth it to get rid of the clamps. How do you secure your glass down?

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T00:14:59Z

It is 2lb 12 5/8 oz or 1.27kg to be precise:) (just weighed it for you) I have not noticed any sagging issues, I do have an aluminum bed frame though, and no problems coming back up. The z-axis is actually quite torquey because it is geared down for precise movements at a trade off for speed. I think I am well below the motor torque limits.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T00:10:43Z

pastprimitive wrote:

Yeah, I'll be sure to be good and ground it well if I go with the AC source. You bought your pad from mcmasters? How much did you put down for it, and is that a SD3 or SD2?
I love the idea of a super fast heater, but I suppose annoyed with the idea of two plugins for my printer. No good reasons, and I think I am leaning that way, especially since I have two of these beautiful solid state relays just begging to be used for something important.
I also posted pictures of my setup above, (or will shortly) that show my upgraded power supply, and setup.
That is the other thing though that makes it easy for me to go the qubed route. The pictured supply is a 12V 54 amp supply. Plenty of extra power to run a qubed. And as pictured has an upgraded cooling fan that keeps it just a few degrees warmer then room temperature when the printer is running full bore.
What size is your heating pad? I'd like to get a 200mm so it get's heat out to the ragged edge.

My heat pad is 6x9 I also wanted to get out to the edges. The screws get in the way or I would have gone with an 8x8. and I couldn't find a 6x8. It sticks out a bit on the sides but has never caused an issue. I really like your Idea of using granite and may give that a go... I have had such good results with glass and I am not sure I want to part with any more Z-height.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-07T00:02:37Z

pastprimitive wrote:

Yes Tomek it's just that heavy.

How heavy is it. Does it make the print platform sag or have problem rising back up? -- ggunners

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-06T23:49:14Z

I have done quite a few changes in my firmware default settings since I had a Panelolou 2 before there was any solidoodle/solidoodle community firmware support for it. But no changes to the default z-axis acceleration. I have however upped my max extruder acceleration to 200 instead of 45. Seems to help. I have successfully printed at 300% at .3mm layer resolution. Of course there is some print quality degradation. Also I have never used the Z-lift feature. I've always been concerned about moving my z-axis in any other direction but down after a print starts in fear of any backlash that my well nut has not taken out. But with the new filament change command in the latest marlin release and in a beta by Adrian I may have to lose that fear.

But usually I solve any crashing issues with puckered edges by lowering extruder temp, or bed temp by a degree or two. I hear an extruder mounted fan solves these puckering issues on difficult prints.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-06T23:04:30Z

Z-lift is the feature in extruder options (assuming you use Slic3r), where you lift the Z-axis a lot as you print a part. It helps avoid knocking into things as you move over parts for travel moving.

What speed is your Z-axis max acceleration set to? Did you have to change any of that?

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-06T22:59:48Z

Yes Tomek it's just that heavy. And that is one of my favorite features, really helps dampen vibration. I did a .1mm resolution print last night after adding the wellnut upgrade and it looks AMAZING! You can look at the original post to see a picture of the granite. Honestly I am liking it a lot better than glass. Plus the black really is nice to print on, and calibrate with. For $5.57 to buy the 12" x 12" tile and have it cut at lowes it was a no-brainer upgrade.

Also what is z-lift?

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-06T22:53:40Z

What about the granite bed makes it so that you don't have to clip it down? Is it just heavy?

Do you use Z-lift?

Thanks

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-06T22:19:19Z

Yeah, I'll be sure to be good and ground it well if I go with the AC source. You bought your pad from mcmasters? How much did you put down for it, and is that a SD3 or SD2?

I love the idea of a super fast heater, but I suppose annoyed with the idea of two plugins for my printer. No good reasons, and I think I am leaning that way, especially since I have two of these beautiful solid state relays just begging to be used for something important.

I also posted pictures of my setup above, (or will shortly) that show my upgraded power supply, and setup.

That is the other thing though that makes it easy for me to go the qubed route. The pictured supply is a 12V 54 amp supply. Plenty of extra power to run a qubed. And as pictured has an upgraded cooling fan that keeps it just a few degrees warmer then room temperature when the printer is running full bore.

What size is your heating pad? I'd like to get a 200mm so it get's heat out to the ragged edge.

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-06T17:52:10Z

pastprimitive wrote:

Exposed aluminum and wall source not a good idea? J/k
Also thanks for the picture.

That's why I recommend the ground wire and use a good three conductor cord with a ground plug. Make sure that ground connects all the way up to the platform itself.

All of the safety stuff aside I have run mine for close to a year without the ground going up to the platform (just to the case).
I do however run my whole set up plugged into a GFCI outlet.

So what are you thinking you are going to use for a heat pad?

Re: Favorite Bed Heater / Print Surface / Hot End Upgrade?

2014-02-06T17:20:18Z

Exposed aluminum and wall source not a good idea? J/k

Also thanks for the picture.