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Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!  

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john.v11
(@john-v11)
Estimable Member
Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

I wanted to create a separate thread so that people are aware that the third party vendor that is selling Powder coated flexible steel sheets at 3 times the cost of Prusa's is not working out very well.

WARNING!!!!!!

I really wanted this thing to work.

On my 5th print using PETG, an approximately 15mm by 15mm patch of the PEI stuck to my print and now there is a big shinney spot and the plate is ruined.

It also confirmed my original fear that the shiny specs were the steel surface.

I CANNOT recommend purchasing this plate for anything more than PLA. I'm willing to bet that TPU will destroy this thing completely

I'm going to try and contact the seller tomorrow and see what they have to say but don't spend your money!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-IXeBkfsYcuf2UXFpr8vwWhX-3Yud1SJ Sorry for the bad quality but its been a long day!

See the forum thread for Steel Plate Rant for the full story and review.

Posted : 18/05/2018 5:37 am
reid.b
(@reid-b)
Reputable Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

I kinda had a feeling that would have been the case... it's a bummer that you had to be the guinea pig on this product. I just couldn't see how an amazon/ebay vendor can suddenly solve a problem overnight that Prusa has been fighting for over 8 months.

Thanks for falling on the sword for us!

Posted : 18/05/2018 6:04 am
john.v11
(@john-v11)
Estimable Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!


Thanks for falling on the sword for us!

I figured someone had to give it a try. I really was pulling for the guy though!

Posted : 18/05/2018 6:54 am
ed
 ed
(@ed-3)
Reputable Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

I figured someone had to give it a try. I really was pulling for the guy though!

As was I... I've almost clicked "buy it now" for this sheet a dozen times now... If it were $50 and I already didn't splurge for the Build-Tak sheet I would have without batting an eye. Worst case you can probably take a wire wheel to the build sheet and slap a sheet of PEI on it. Advice from me is to stay away from the Build-Tak print surface.

Do follow up with us with regard to their customer service as I'm curious how they handle this.

Posted : 18/05/2018 2:55 pm
john.v11
(@john-v11)
Estimable Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

All I can say at this point is they are handling it honestly and promptly.

I give them 5 stars for customer service.

Posted : 18/05/2018 6:13 pm
john.v11
(@john-v11)
Estimable Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

He has now come out with a second version which I have been using. So far the new version is meeting all of the objections I had with the first one but I've been holding off on my review until I can do test prints with other materials such as PETG and TPU.

So far the new version which has a thicker coating than the first version is performing very well but I've only had time to print with PLA.

Some of the improvements:

1) The coating is thicker.
2) Coating is more uniform and I can't see the "silver sparkles" I could see before.
3) I've been using only white PLA and I've not had and black partical transfer to the item being printed.
4) They have removed the objectional copyright messages from their paperwork.
5) The instructions state that the plate does NOT need to be cleaned unless it gets very dusty. Under those conditions they recommend cold water and no rubbing. No acetone should be used as per the instructions.

The only negative so far is the sheet is not completely square and on the leading edge is a tiny bit small which will cut down the X axis by a millimeter or so. I'm sure they can fix that going forward.

It's still pricey and the shipping is high but it looks like version 2 is a success. I'm not recommending a buy until I get a chance to test other materials but if you do mostly PLA then it will work well for you.

Posted : 01/06/2018 8:40 pm
dimprov
(@dimprov)
Noble Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

Would slapping a Prusa PEI sheet ($8.95 each) onto a spring steel plate work just as well? At least you wouldn't have to clean PEI off an original build plate, just apply a sheet to a virgin new one. If someone knows of a good spring steel plate that fits the Prusa dimensions, I'd be willing to try it, as I currently have 3 unused Prusa PEI sheets.

Posted : 01/06/2018 8:51 pm
john.v11
(@john-v11)
Estimable Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

The stick on sheets have a smooth texture and some people like the textured finish.

Also, having changed a bunch of the PEI stickers I just don't like changing them. Its a PITA if you ask me.

Posted : 01/06/2018 9:09 pm
dimprov
(@dimprov)
Noble Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!


The stick on sheets have a smooth texture and some people like the textured finish.

Also, having changed a bunch of the PEI stickers I just don't like changing them. Its a PITA if you ask me.

Right, that's why I thought applying a sticker to a raw spring steel plate might not be as bad. But, maybe there aren't any?

Posted : 01/06/2018 9:13 pm
ed
 ed
(@ed-3)
Reputable Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!


Would slapping a Prusa PEI sheet ($8.95 each) onto a spring steel plate work just as well? At least you wouldn't have to clean PEI off an original build plate, just apply a sheet to a virgin new one. If someone knows of a good spring steel plate that fits the Prusa dimensions, I'd be willing to try it, as I currently have 3 unused Prusa PEI sheets.

The Build-Tak "flex-plate"(spring steel sheet, https://www.buildtak.com/product/flexplate/ ) is really nice with one caveat, if you're only going to apply PEI or Build-Tak to one side make sure you round off the edges of the plate with emery cloth first. I unfortunately initially only applied the Build-Tak sheet to one side of the sheet as recommended and scratched up my heat bed, I have copper traces exposed in a couple of places from it. I rounded the edges with emery cloth then said screw it and put Build-Tak on both sides of the plate and all is well now, I really wish I would have done that in the first place. My main mistake was trying to slide the sheet under the print head when putting on and removing it. I've now added a script to raise the print head to 190 mm after the print finishes, it's kind of a hack and not advisable if you print items over 190mm tall.

At first I wasn't too keen on the Build-Tak sheet due to the fact it's so hard to remove parts from and it's damn near impossible to get single layer prints off of it, e.g. first layer calibration pad. I forced myself to start using the Build-Tak sheet a couple of weeks ago and it's really grown on me, to the point where I think I prefer it over the PEI sheet. If you do go the Build-Tak route I'd recommend purchasing the sheets from Amazon if you have Prime as it's cheaper to do so than to purchase directly from Build-Tak.

Posted : 02/06/2018 2:56 pm
dimprov
(@dimprov)
Noble Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!


I forced myself to start using the Build-Tak sheet a couple of weeks ago and it's really grown on me, to the point where I think I prefer it over the PEI sheet.

What is it about the Build-Tak sheet that you prefer over the PEI sheet? I ask because I'm a noob, and I have no experience with Build-Tak.

Posted : 02/06/2018 3:52 pm
ed
 ed
(@ed-3)
Reputable Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!



I forced myself to start using the Build-Tak sheet a couple of weeks ago and it's really grown on me, to the point where I think I prefer it over the PEI sheet.

What is it about the Build-Tak sheet that you prefer over the PEI sheet? I ask because I'm a noob, and I have no experience with Build-Tak.

Bear in mind, I too am a newb at this... My original reason for getting the Build-Tak was, and still primarily is, because I like the textured first layer of the Prusa parts and was trying to achieve the same on my prints. Build-Tak is textured but not as much as Prusa but I still like the look better than the glassy first layer from the PEI sheets, in that regard it's purely aesthetic. What I hated about the Build-Tak at first I'm now starting to like.. Parts stick to it like glue and it takes much more effort to remove them than it does to pop parts off of the PEI sheets from Prusa. I've yet to have a corner curl or a part come loose from the Build-Tak sheet and I've learned to finesse the parts off of the sheet instead of just flexing a couple of times like the Prusa sheet. The choice is kind of personal, both the PEI and the Build-Tak perform well enough but the Build-Tak holds the parts a little better and I like the look of the first layer better. I have hundreds of prints on one side of my PEI sheet and never used the other and with the excepting of the priming line you'd have a difficult time telling what side was printed on. I have around 50'ish prints on the Build-Tak sheet and there are lots of visible part outlines on the sheet yet everything still adheres well and first layer quality isn't noticeably affected.

Posted : 02/06/2018 10:00 pm
dany.a
(@dany-a)
Active Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!


He has now come out with a second version which I have been using. So far the new version is meeting all of the objections I had with the first one but I've been holding off on my review until I can do test prints with other materials such as PETG and TPU.

So far the new version which has a thicker coating than the first version is performing very well but I've only had time to print with PLA.

Some of the improvements:

1) The coating is thicker.
2) Coating is more uniform and I can't see the "silver sparkles" I could see before.
3) I've been using only white PLA and I've not had and black partical transfer to the item being printed.
4) They have removed the objectional copyright messages from their paperwork.
5) The instructions state that the plate does NOT need to be cleaned unless it gets very dusty. Under those conditions they recommend cold water and no rubbing. No acetone should be used as per the instructions.

The only negative so far is the sheet is not completely square and on the leading edge is a tiny bit small which will cut down the X axis by a millimeter or so. I'm sure they can fix that going forward.

It's still pricey and the shipping is high but it looks like version 2 is a success. I'm not recommending a buy until I get a chance to test other materials but if you do mostly PLA then it will work well for you.

WOW !! SUPER ! GOTCHA ! MUTCH MORE BETTER COMPARE BUILDTACK !

Posted : 03/06/2018 3:50 pm
Greybeard3D
(@greybeard3d)
Estimable Member
Re: Warning Steel Build Plates Warning!

I love buildtak. It takes a while to 'break in' but its better than PEI to me too.

Posted : 27/06/2018 7:50 pm
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