1 Topic by kyle79914

  • kyle79914
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-05-22
  • Posts: 28

Topic: Printing on different surfaces?

Has anyone tried printing on different materials? I'm trying glass right now and it seem to be working pretty good. I'm asking for a couple of reasons. One is I am still having problems with my part sticking all the way. It's getting better though. Another reason would be for texture. Just as an example, printing on sand paper, then when you remove the sand paper you would have a texture. Or, since sand paper would be impossible to remove. Paper with salt glued to it. Water will dissolve the salt and hopefully remove the paper too.

2 Reply by kyle79914

  • kyle79914
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-05-22
  • Posts: 28

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

I just did a test print on regular white paper. I have glass with a piece of paper on top. Taped the edges down and clamped in all on the bed. I printed a test cube and it came out Perfect! It's the best print I have had. The bottom came out 100% smooth and flat.(it was only a 5,5,5 cube) I don't know how it will work on bigger items but I will try. The heat from the bed warped the paper a little but the print still came out great. I will try sticking a label for printing usps postage onto the glass and printing on that. The glue from the label should hold the label flat even when it's heated. Surprisingly my printed cube came right off the paper, just like it does from glass. So far my best print, now I'm happy with my printer and I don't want to throw it out the window.

3 Reply by kyle79914

  • kyle79914
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-05-22
  • Posts: 28

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

I just printed the same cube on glass with a white sticky label on the glass. The label didn't warp at all and the print came out perfect. It stuck perfectly and looks great. And the printed part pulled right off. I will now be printing everything on this label on glass. I guess we will see how bigger parts do very soon.

4 Reply by dkeeling728

  • dkeeling728
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-05-20
  • Posts: 148

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

Many people report good results with blue or green painters masking tape on glass, very similar to your mailing label discovery and possibly cheaper to boot!

don't have my SD3 yet, but very much looking forward to joining in on all the tinkering and process of discovery in this new technology!

5 Reply by kyle79914

  • kyle79914
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-05-22
  • Posts: 28

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

I'm printing a big part right now on a label which is directly on the bed, no kapton tape. One small edge lifted up after about layer 5, but it's coming out pretty good.

6 Reply by ysb

  • ysb
  • ysb
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: quebec, canada
  • Registered: 2012-08-09
  • Posts: 1,164

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

dkeeling728 wrote:

Many people report good results with blue or green painters masking tape on glass, very similar to your mailing label discovery and possibly cheaper to boot!

don't have my SD3 yet, but very much looking forward to joining in on all the tinkering and process of discovery in this new technology!


this tape is good for PLA... not ABS

Find all my 3D printable models here
Game of ropes 2 online..Adult only

ysb's Website

7 Reply by 2n2r5

  • 2n2r5
  • 2n2r5
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2013-05-09
  • Posts: 1,208

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

ysb wrote:
dkeeling728 wrote:

Many people report good results with blue or green painters masking tape on glass, very similar to your mailing label discovery and possibly cheaper to boot!

don't have my SD3 yet, but very much looking forward to joining in on all the tinkering and process of discovery in this new technology!


this tape is good for PLA... not ABS

Green Polyester Masking tape (also known as green powder coating tape) is fantastic for ABS. You have to be at 80+c but it won't let go of your print until it cools off. Blue painter tape... never tried it.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

8 Reply by ysb (edited by ysb 2013-05-24 14:03:18)

  • ysb
  • ysb
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: quebec, canada
  • Registered: 2012-08-09
  • Posts: 1,164

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

haaa this one is more like kapton... we don't speak about the same green tape...

i speak about this tape that is often used for PLA printing but didn't work at all with ABS :

http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/sf/3-13-09%20frog%20tape.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sa4jFrt3B4M/TKTbJAv3eUI/AAAAAAAAMSQ/xaFgOz4Vr34/s400/ScotchBlueTape2.jpg


yours is this one :

http://www.shercon.com/Masking%20Images/PC21%20Green%20Polyester%20Tape.jpg

not at all the same...

Find all my 3D printable models here
Game of ropes 2 online..Adult only

ysb's Website

9 Reply by 2n2r5 (edited by 2n2r5 2013-05-24 14:24:33)

  • 2n2r5
  • 2n2r5
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2013-05-09
  • Posts: 1,208

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

Nope, not the same at all. I've never seen green painters tape before. I guess it's for people with a phobia of the color blue. Good catch YSB.

The stuff I use (that pretty translucent/transparent stuff on the bottom there) is nice and thick and doesn't get nicks in it as easy as Kapton. You can take a paint scraper to it without getting the same results as you do with kapton.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

10 Reply by Ghostling

  • Ghostling
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-02-27
  • Posts: 39

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

i use the blue scotch 3m tape pictured above with ABS and it sticks very well.

my PLA stuck very well to clean plain heated glass... so i didn't have to use any sort of tape.

11 Reply by Gordym

  • Gordym
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Adrian, MI
  • Registered: 2012-08-10
  • Posts: 317

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

2n2r5 wrote:

Green Polyester Masking tape (also known as green powder coating tape) is fantastic for ABS. You have to be at 80+c but it won't let go of your print until it cools off. Blue painter tape... never tried it.

I have used the green polyester tape and agree that it is a good replacement for kapton. It is cheaper too.

SD2
E3D V6
MK5 V6

12 Reply by op7ical

  • op7ical
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2013-01-21
  • Posts: 136

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

Gordym wrote:
2n2r5 wrote:

Green Polyester Masking tape (also known as green powder coating tape) is fantastic for ABS. You have to be at 80+c but it won't let go of your print until it cools off. Blue painter tape... never tried it.

I have used the green polyester tape and agree that it is a good replacement for kapton. It is cheaper too.

How does the bonding strength compare to glass+hairspray?

13 Reply by 2n2r5

  • 2n2r5
  • 2n2r5
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2013-05-09
  • Posts: 1,208

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

I printed a flat 5x7 tray that was about 1/4 tall and didn't get the slightest curl on Green Polyester Masking tape (GPMT) with hair spray. This is after I had one start curling on another glass bed with hair spray. Both are good but GPMT wins with ABS.

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

14 Reply by Gomisan

  • Gomisan
  • Gomisan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Adelaide, Australia
  • Registered: 2013-07-29
  • Posts: 266

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

I've never seen this Green tape (the clear one) anywhere! Certainly not in hardware stores locally.

Is there a brand name and reseller I can search on so I can buy some online to try? (and yes I have googled " Green Polyester Masking tape "  but I wouldn't mind a standard price point to compare too)

Gomisan's Website

15 Reply by 2n2r5

  • 2n2r5
  • 2n2r5
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2013-05-09
  • Posts: 1,208

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

I bought mine on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGP … &psc=1

Items Ordered     Price
1 of: 4" X 72 Yds - 2 Mil Green Powder Coating Masking Tape - High Temperature [Office Product]
Condition: New
Sold by: Lucent Path (seller profile)
                            $25.00
Shipping & Handling:     $4.40
      -----
Total before tax:     $29.40

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

2n2r5's Website

16 Reply by Gomisan

  • Gomisan
  • Gomisan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Adelaide, Australia
  • Registered: 2013-07-29
  • Posts: 266

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

Great, yet another Amazon item that wont ship to Australia. But I'll take that price and see what I can find locally thanks.

Maybe this is something the 3D printing shops can start stocking alongside the Kapton tape.

Gomisan's Website

17 Reply by Tony Holmes

  • Tony Holmes
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: NJ USA
  • Registered: 2013-06-23
  • Posts: 50

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

I'll go along with 2n2r5,blue PET is great stuff with ABS,I've been using it on my clear ceramic beds with good results.

It's also available from Ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/200mm-33M-PET-A … 515wt_1163

I got some pre-cut sheets with liner from Airwolf 3D,5 12x8 sheets for $35. http://airwolf3d.com/store/products/3d- … pe-8-x-12/ Not too bad when you consider I cut each sheet in half and get 10 sheets for my money.

I installed them using the "wet" method as detailed here: http://airwolf3d.com/blog/2013/02/07/pe … ter-glass/

Their instructions are pretty much spot on except for on thing I learned doing window tint on cars.Don't even think of using an ammonia based cleaner such as "Windex" to either clean the glass or as a lubricant to apply the film,it leads to problems because the ammonia will react with the adhesive.The pros use a drop or two of baby shampoo in a qt of water as lubricant,you can also use plain water.

If anyone is curious where I got my clear ceramic: http://www.onedayglass.com/ they have two thicknesses,"pyroceram" at 3mm and "neoceram" at 5mm.They will custom cut to any size and even drill holes,online quotes are free.

They shipped my 4 sheet order next-day and it made the 3K mile trip from Wash State to NJ with zero damage,they pack carefully and are prompt.

18 Reply by Gomisan

  • Gomisan
  • Gomisan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Adelaide, Australia
  • Registered: 2013-07-29
  • Posts: 266

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

Well my Borosilicate glass arrived today, 4 sheets cut to size with the edges ground.

But I'm not having ANY luck with the hairspray. I'be been able to get the most level bed yet, but prints just pop off after a few layers.

My IR thermometer says the glass isnt getting anywhere near the temp of the bed, which could be the issue. Maxxing out at about 85C

Gomisan's Website

19 Reply by Tomek

  • Tomek
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-10-01
  • Posts: 710

Re: Printing on different surfaces?

Gomisan wrote:

Well my Borosilicate glass arrived today, 4 sheets cut to size with the edges ground.

But I'm not having ANY luck with the hairspray. I'be been able to get the most level bed yet, but prints just pop off after a few layers.

My IR thermometer says the glass isnt getting anywhere near the temp of the bed, which could be the issue. Maxxing out at about 85C


People trust their IR thermometer way too much.  glass is a reflective surface, you can't really easily IR it. Best bet would be to print or find a black sheet of thin paper, place it on the glass, and IR that.


But, it's true the glass doesn't get quite as hot.


If you're having trouble with hairspray mix together 30% waste plastic and 70% acetone to make some "acetone glue" Spread a thin layer on your plate, and print onto this. It's what I use when I'm frustrated because for some reason hairspray isn't working. I tried this last week when I couldn't be assed to find the real problem. Eventually I had too much sticking so I went back to hairspray and was happing. But when I have a very warpable print, I'll also take out the jar of acetone glue.