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Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.  

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Dan Rogers
(@dan-rogers)
Noble Member
Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

Many of you have experienced your first PETG or ABS prints tearing the smooth PEI sheet because you didn't know you needed release agents on the sheet before printing with super-sticky materials.  Prusa shop sells replacement PEI coatings (in the spare parts section) - and they are a good alternative for buying a brand new steel sheet.

I decided today was the day.  I've been sitting on the replacement PEI (comes with instructions) and the materials you need to do the job (freezer and Limonene) - so I got an old shallow baking pan from my wife and permission to potentially make it a shop sheet, popped the damaged sheet in the deep freeze overnight and was ready to try the job this morning.

Frozen, the PEI sheet peels off very easily - leaving the glue layer behind.  The new sheet comes with the 3M glue already applied, so the next part of the job is to take all of the old glue off of the steel sheet.  You do not want to just apply the new sheet over the old glue because that will make the extra thickness throw off the PINDA sensor on your Prusa printer.  So into the shallow pan went two small bottles of limonene (smells like orange peels) and I used a plastic scraper to start pushing the glue.  The limonene does a good job softening up the glue - and it comes of in surprising quantities.  I ended up with a half quart of old glue at the end.  Once _all_ of the glue is off - not even a thin remnant, it's on to laying down the new PEI sheet.

As I said before, the replacement kit comes with two PEI sheets - you really can't do only one side.   The kit also comes with very clear instructions, color pictures, and cautions on what to not do.  Very advisable to read that a few times over before you start.

Putting down the new sheet was not a long job, but you need to be careful to go slow and keep air bubbles out of the mix.   Then you trim the sheet back to the size of the steel sheet - and you're ready to print.

So if you have a damaged PEI smooth sheet - think about fixing the one you have instead of buying a new one.  Even if you bought a new one, fix your old one and you'll have more sheets to swap (faster printing while the old print cools)

Posted : 09/05/2021 7:50 pm
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cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
RE: Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

Freezer approach - I like it.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 13/05/2021 12:24 am
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
RE: Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

Replacing the PEI is messy, but straightforward. The disappointment for me was the amount of corrosion that occurred under the PEI afterwards. The Prusa spring steel sheets don't seem to be coated or treated. My PrintedSolid spring steel sheet is corrosion free after applying BuildTak PEI over a year ago.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 13/05/2021 2:11 am
Dan Rogers
(@dan-rogers)
Noble Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

@bobstro

I'll have to wait and see.  Right now, no corrosion showing, but the fine bubbles are reducing day by day.

Posted : 13/05/2021 2:30 am
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
RE: Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

@dan-rogers

I have a couple of sheets without rust - there is hope.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 13/05/2021 2:46 am
Dan Rogers
(@dan-rogers)
Noble Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

I worked at not letting them sit out in the air for too long.  Did you use the limonene or did you use something else?  I remember seeing an earlier post where they were quite brown - I hope I got it in time.  I'm printing on that sheet right now!  It is a couple days since I did the work - and the bond has been improving the longer I sit (looking more like a factory sheet).  I also just picked up another of their seconds  while I was refreshing some colors that only Prusa has - and my lures need.

 

Posted : 13/05/2021 2:55 am
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
RE: Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

@dan-rogers

I did not use any chemicals.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 13/05/2021 2:56 am
Dan Rogers
(@dan-rogers)
Noble Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Replacing the PEI on a damaged smooth sheet - easy and done.

How did you get the half quart of glue off?

 

Posted : 13/05/2021 3:28 am
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