Comments on: CupCake Wants the Build Platform Temperature Turned Down After the First Layer

By: Keith Neufeld

Keith Neufeld — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:16:59 +0000

JP, how come you have to be so logical? No, seriously, I’ve watched a video of a Thing-O-Matic printing and the HBP relay clicking on and off drove me nuts. Granted, the camcorder was right next to the relay; but I really don’t want more noise. I’m more likely to tap into the thermistor circuit and build a HBP temperature warning lamp on the front of the machine, probably with a “heating” indicator lamp next to it.

James, I’ve tried different nozzle temperatures and even five degrees lower than nominal causes feed problems on my machine. Keep in mind that I’ve calibrated my thermistor and it was over 5°C off (as I recall) before calibration, so I remain politely skeptical of people who claim extrusion at 200°C. With gearmotor filament feed, anyway.

I wouldn’t say I have any trouble with adhesion, so I’m not interested in giving up the super-smooth kapton-on-aluminum surface for the relatively rough texture of blue tape. And I’m definitely not interested in having to repaint the platform every time I want to print something. Seems to me I have about the best system (for me) that I could — I just need to not use it incorrectly.

By: James Adams

James Adams — Tue, 10 May 2011 01:29:23 +0000

Couple things,

Check to make sure your not running too hot on the extrusion, and on the heater.

I can get away with extruding ABS as low as 197 as opposed to 220.
I run the heated build platform at around 110 instead of 120 (just lowering that setting helped for my bot).

Try using Blue painters tape on the platform to increase adhesion. and if you want to go a step further mix acetone and ABS plastic to make like a slurry and spread that mix over the blue painters tape,Warning object will not want to come off!

I actually do use a relay for JUST the HBP and the clicking is tolerable for me and in reality for how your heating the board , couldn’t you just set the temperature to a range you’ll never hit so it doesn’t cycle the board on and off while printing ?

By: J. Peterson

J. Peterson — Tue, 10 May 2011 01:21:56 +0000

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been reminded to turn our oven off by the subtle click of the thermostat relay. I’ve been in cars that electronically re-create the relay click when the turn signals are on.

Sure you don’t want those relays? : )