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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : 3D printer: Hotbed cleaning question

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WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2959
Posted: 06:48pm 03 Dec 2018
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I have a question for all you 3D printer users out there.

My issue is with first layer adhesion. I have an Anycubic Ultrabase hotbed which worked fantastically for several prints. However, I stupidly put my greasy paws on the bed when removing the last 'masterpiece', and now I have virtually no 1st layer adhesion resulting in all prints now failing miserably.

Turning to Google, some people swear by using Methylated Spirits (purple stuff) to clean the bed, whereas others say definitely not to use it (as it destroys the bed coating).

Have any of you got some useful cleaning advice please. Basically I just want to wipe away the grease (and some very slight 'dulling' residual marks from earlier prints left on the bed) without destroying the surface coating.

Thanks . . . .

WW
 
PicFan
Senior Member

Joined: 18/03/2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 133
Posted: 07:49pm 03 Dec 2018
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Hi @WW !

Try warm water and very little dishwashing detergent. But I think that the distance between the nozzle and the bed is too big? You have not changed the material, or?

greetings
wolfgang
 
WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2959
Posted: 07:53pm 03 Dec 2018
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Hi Wolfgang,

I did reset the bed levelling (although it was minimal adjustment needed). No change of filament as I only have the one reel here currently.

I did see on Google that people suggest Fairy Liquid and warm water - that was my 'backup' plan. Just wanted to get some general feedback from guys on TBS first and I will go with the trend!

Appreciate your feedback.

Rgds,
Phil
 
matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 10572
Posted: 07:54pm 03 Dec 2018
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Don't know anything about that type of bed but I use isopropyl alchohol. Normally pretty safe - if you can use it on monitor screens .....
 
WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2959
Posted: 07:58pm 03 Dec 2018
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Cheers Peter (I was about to email you about this....)

Got me an AnyCubic i3 Mega (thanks to Malibu's TBS post a while ago) and absolutely love it.

Printed out some nice 2.8 ILI enclosures. Was about to finish another design when I ran in to my current issue.
Will post pictures soon as I think people here may love it for their 2.8 BackPack modules

WW
 
twofingers

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Joined: 02/06/2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 1671
Posted: 08:24pm 03 Dec 2018
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Hi WW,

I also use isopropyl alcohol for my AnyCubic i3 Mega.
To get sure you can use a mixture 50% alcohol + 50% water.

Fairy Liquid and warm water seems also a good idea.

Another method to increase the adhesion is a glue stick ("Pritt stick"?). But I never tried that.

2.8 ILI enclosures


I made my enclosure for Micks 170 BP () and 2.4" and 2.8" LCDs.
I ceated also a case for the "nacked" Serial to USB Adaptors (cp2102).


Best regards
Michael





causality ≠ correlation ≠ coincidence
 
WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2959
Posted: 08:34pm 03 Dec 2018
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Thanks Michael

I too use Big Mik's BP (SMD). Got a 'poor' pictures here (they really don't do justice) . . .
 
Bill.b

Senior Member

Joined: 25/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 242
Posted: 08:59pm 03 Dec 2018
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Hi WW

Depending on the material of your bed i.e glass or special coating, I use a
white art rubber to clean the bed before use,and at working temperature - 60 deg for PLA or 100 for ABS

Bill
In the interests of the environment, this post has been constructed entirely from recycled electrons.
 
MikeO
Senior Member

Joined: 11/09/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 275
Posted: 02:16am 04 Dec 2018
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I use a paper "Glue Stick" for adhesion (it cleans off with warm water and sponge)
But I would almost guarantee if you are having adhesion problems its will be your bed height/level. I use a business card ~ 0.35mm so you can just feel the drag under the head at the corners and the center. Also you need to over dispense the first layer , usually set as a % flowrate, mine is 120%

Mike
Codenquilts
 
Malibu
Senior Member

Joined: 07/07/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 260
Posted: 07:35am 04 Dec 2018
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G'day Phil...
Something that just occurred to me when I read this when I had my sticking problem (or lack thereof...) - and I'm presuming you're using Cura Slicer - is setting the build plate adhesion: I use skirt with 4 lines (to make sure the extrusion gets truly underway from the nozzle) and I have 'Enable Retraction' set to 6mm (to stop any dribbles during rapid travel)
Don't know if it will help, but it seemed to work (partly) for me.
As far as cleaning goes, I use Meths, but I also use a piece of vinyl release paper as a sticking surface (much the same as blue painters tape)
Here's a printed model I did for a mate as a 2nd print (after the factory release owls as a trial, of course!)
Any Trek fans will recognise it



Around 450mm long, it's all completely printed except for the 'barrels' and the curved part of the stand... All in good fun, but it was a learning curve!
John
 
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