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  1. #1

    Aluminum Print Bed?

    Can you use aluminum for a print bed? It would make sense to me, but I'm not very experienced when it comes to 3D printing. If so, where is the best place to get an aluminum print bed?

  2. #2
    Staff Engineer Davo's Avatar
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    We have aluminum print beds on the Hyrels, but we prefer to tape glass to them for easier cleaning.

  3. #3
    Aluminium works quite well with a layer of Kapton tape on top to protect it and aid adhesion.

  4. #4
    I use aluminum quite a bit, but it's more a pain in the neck to clean than glass. There really isn't any problem using it though. Not sure where you can get a bed either.

  5. #5
    @flixtix - what type of printer do you have?

  6. #6
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    Aluminum is good because of the lower heat retention, however like the others have said, it is a pain in the neck to clean.

  7. #7
    Staff Engineer old man emu's Avatar
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    D'errr! How do you go about heating an aluminium print bed?

    I want to find out because I am thinking of building a 1200 mm x 1200 mm printer.

    Old Man Emu

  8. #8
    Staff Engineer Davo's Avatar
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    OME, our print bed is basically an aluminum circuit board.

    IMG_3524.jpg

  9. #9
    Staff Engineer old man emu's Avatar
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    Davo,
    What are the dimensions of the bed?

    OME

  10. #10
    Staff Engineer Davo's Avatar
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    OME,

    8.25 x 12 inches, not including the trough (we're moving the troughs off the bed to reduce heat loss).

    Davo

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