1 Topic by techbuilder2175

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Topic: bow in aluminum plate or rods

I leveled my plate starting with a feeler gauge then refined the leveling by using my dial indicator. I leveled all to zero by the leveling screws then when I go to the center Its .006 off .

I believe that this could be caused from the aluminum build plate or a .005 bow in the y axis.

Anyone have any ideas on fixing this or any similar issues ?

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

2 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

The aluminum is probably warped.  The best fix is to clip a plate of glass onto it for a print surface-  http://www.soliforum.com/topic/160/glass-bed/

3 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

My apologies I forgot to mention that was with the glass on.
I measured it with the glass off and it was worse.

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

4 Reply by Tomek

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

Part the difficulty in ensuring a perfectly flat surface is why slic3r offers the option to make your first layer extra tall (e.g, I use .3mm for the first layer even when I have a .1mm genera layer setting.)

5 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

Make sure you don't use 4 clips on the glass.  Only 2 or three so it doesn't try to match the warp of the aluminum.

6 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

Im currently using 3, I'll try 2 and I'll trying going with a thicker glass, Mine is 2.5mm thick

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

7 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

I just ordered a precision ground 1/4 inch aluminum plate that has been heat treated
shouldn't have issues with bowing after I get this in.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B4X5GE/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

The aluminum will barely expand until past 300°F

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

8 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

Also solidoodle should design their beds better as this shouldn't be something I should have to purchase since the bed should be flat.

1/8" piece of aluminum isn't obviously going to stay flat when applying pressure and heat.

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

9 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

Hi everyone,

I installed the new precision ground aluminum plate and it's only slightly better which tells me it's due to the rods being  bent in the x and a little in the y.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Here's pics of the new plate

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m158/Techbuilder/20130820_234920.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m158/Techbuilder/20130820_234852.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m158/Techbuilder/20130820_234905.jpg

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

10 Reply by johnforeman

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

Have you heat cycled that precision plate a few times then remeasured?  I would be surprised if it stays flat once you start heating it.  It would be interesting to see the long term effects the heat has on the flatness.
Keep us posted.

11 Reply by 2n2r5

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

techbuilder2175 wrote:

I leveled my plate starting with a feeler gauge then refined the leveling by using my dial indicator. I leveled all to zero by the leveling screws then when I go to the center Its .006 off .

I believe that this could be caused from the aluminum build plate or a .005 bow in the y axis.

Anyone have any ideas on fixing this or any similar issues ?


Is this in mm?

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.

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12 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: bow in aluminum plate or rods

Have you heat cycled that precision plate a few times then remeasured?  I would be surprised if it stays flat once you start heating it.  It would be interesting to see the long term effects the heat has on the flatness.
Keep us posted.

Nope however it's heat treated and a lot thicker so it shouldn't expand to much.

Is this in mm?

Nope this is in inches.

Has anyone replaced there rods with precision harden rods or increased the diameter of them?

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers