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Improving adhesion with tape  

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MileHigh3Der
(@milehigh3der)
Honorable Member
Improving adhesion with tape

Bed adhesion has always been my main issue and made me reluctant to print bigger things.  I've tried using sprays, glue, all the different bed surfaces all with ABS, Nylon and PET(G).  All with different levels of success.

One thing thing that I have started to do is print with a 5-7mm brim and then before the layers start to build carefully 'tack' down at least the corners of the brim with Scotch Tape.  After printing the 1st layer brim, I'll turn the speed down to make it a bit easier/safer to apply the tape.

Scotch tape seems to be heat stable to 90C, keeps adhered at those temps and keeps the corners from lifting (much).  Stuff can still curl a bit, but it seems to keep it place so that it doesn't get knocked off. 

For Nylons I've actually put the tape across the item itself after a few layers. it seems to get incorporated into the item with out loss of adhesion, and I just trim it with a razor afterwards.

I bought some 200x200mm or so double sided tape squares that I'm going to try as a printing base on a flat sheet.

I like the rough PEI sheet, but I think that alcohols leave a faint residue that builds-up over time that I feel only comes off with water washing, which I know is a bozo/no-no.

I hadn't seen many people mentioning the tape/brim method so I wanted to pass it along to see if it works for anyone else.

Posted : 08/01/2020 6:05 pm
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