We can’t stress enough how important 3D printer bed adhesion to printing success. However, it is not that easy to achieve. There is no consistent recipe for solid bed adhesion. It varies depending on the design, filament used, or printing temperature. Here is a guide to getting a good bed adhesion every time.
What is bed adhesion?
A 3D printer bed is where the molten plastic is extruded layer upon layer to form an object. Bed adhesion is the capability of the plastic to stick to the build plate during printing. It is required for the first layer to be successful to serve as a foundation for the object. If it fails to adhere to the bed, you can expect various issues to come up, including curling, shifting, and the dreaded “3D printer spaghetti.”
There are many fixes to bed adhesion problems. You can use simple DIY solutions, such as stick glue, bed cleaning, or printer adjustments. There are also commercially available bed adhesive solutions, ranging from build tapes, spring sheets, and liquid bed adhesives.
DIY Bed Adhesion Fixes
1. Glue
Sometimes, you just need glue to improve bed adhesion. However, the downside to this is that it can be difficult to clean off the bed. It also doesn’t work well for high-temperature filaments.
2. Cleaning the bed
Frequent usage of glue can leave debris on the bed that prevents prints from sticking. Our hands can also leave grease or oil on the bed. Cleaning the bed can make your bed sticky again.
3. Level the bed
Your first layer can slide off if the bed is tilted. Ensure that your bed is levelled before starting each printing project. Bed levelling varies on the 3D printer. Some require manual leveling while others have automatic leveling, like our Flashforge 3D printers and Ultimaker 3D printers.
4. Adjust the nozzle
If the nozzle is too high, the filament would have cooled down once it hits the bed, making it less sticky. Be careful not to set the nozzle too low, as it will hit your print during printing.
5. Add supports to your print
Some designs are just not made for sticking to the bed. Prints that don’t have a big surface area sticking to the bed need support to ensure that they stick to the bed.
6. Keep the printing temperature consistent
Printing without an enclosure can cause temperature changes throughout printing, which can affect bed adhesion. It is important to use an enclosure when printing, especially when using high-temperature filaments. Enclosures stabilise internal printing temperature.
Commercially Available 3D Printer Bed Adhesives
1. FormFutura EasyFix Adhesives
There are many bed adhesives out in the market. FormFutura EasyFix adhesives are the only adhesives that use different formulations for different filaments. EasyFix’s full line of adhesives consists of 7 types for different filaments from low-temperature to high-temperature ones.
EasyFix is engineered to become sticky when the bed heats up and automatically loses its adhesion when the bed cools down to make it easy to remove the print and prevent damaging the plate. With seven formulations, check out FormFutura’s guide on the best formulation to use for the filament you’ll be printing with:
2. Dimafix
Dimafix is an aerosol spray adhesive best suited for ABS, ASA, Polycarbonates, and other high-temperature filaments. It provides adhesion when you need it the most during printing while it loses its stickiness once the bed cools down. It is not recommended for nylon filaments as heated glass beds work best for those.
3. FlashForge Build Plate & Spring Sheet
FlashForge manufactures its own build plates and spring sheets for exclusive use for their 3D printers. Build plates is an adhesive print bed layer that improves the bed adhesion. Meanwhile, FlashForge’s spring sheet is magnetic and flexible to deliver good bed adhesion and easy print removal.
Improve print success with good bed adhesion!
Bed adhesion is the secret to the success of your prints. While some filaments can be difficult to print with, specially designed bed adhesives such as FormFutura EasyFix can greatly make it easier. EasyFix stocks are quickly running out! Order now through this link.