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PLA part warpage
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:07 pm
by Nylocke
Ive been printing with PLA and Ive been getting a considerable amount of warping for large flat parts. I have a 50mm fan on the print thats always on, and I am printing on blue painters tape on an acrylic bed, but the parts are warping enough to lift the tape off of the bed (I think it may be the heat from the PLA weakening the adhesive, I put some kapton in a few places over the blue painters tape and its lifting the painters tape less, but it is still warping enough to be annoying and an issue). The fan I have isn't very great, but I have no other 50mm fans to use. Any opinions or help?
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:46 am
by jmpreuss
How large is large? Are these parts rounded or square?
I haven't printed many big parts on my max yet but I do have experience printing large parts on my PTMNBN. I found that "good enough" leveling for most parts isn't good enough for large parts. Corners are more of a problem, some people have tried either brims or "feet" to keep down problem areas. In the end for me it was just trial and error, and a large dose of patience.
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:18 am
by barnett
I haven't done much PLA, but with ABS & nylon I've had good luck adding mouse ears to the part. I make the ears no more than a couple layers high and relatively small to minimize cleanup.
You might also try turning off the part fan (not the peek fan) and/or warming the area around the heated bed to make the cooling more uniform.
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:45 am
by Nylocke
Its an acrylic bed, so no heating, the part isn't coming off of the tape, it is pulling the tape off of the bed. Ill try turning off the fan. Its an Ultimaker with a very easily leveled bed, and its pretty level, though I don't have a depth gauge unfortunately to double check. Its fairly large, but not super large, ~100mmX~50mm or something. I plan on getting a heated bed soon, but I don't have the funds quite yet.
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:05 am
by cope413
i just recently started printing some very large PLA parts - 200 x 130- or so, and have had no issues. what kind of tape are you using? i noticed that cheap blue tape doesn't work - gotta go with name brand stuff to get good results. otherwise, it pulls up like you're experiencing.
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:21 am
by MSURunner
Hit it with some rubbing alcohol before you print. A "Brim" also works well. Also, this stuff works well for parts that are a bit testy, though if you "squish" it into the tape too much it requires a bit more cleanup on the part.
http://www.specialty-graphics.com/rtape ... _tape.html
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:06 pm
by Nylocke
the tape isn't labeled, it has a black inner cardboard piece, is 3M a good brand, or is there a brand that you would recommend?
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:38 pm
by cope413
3M is what I use - and though it's more expensive, I ended up throwing away some non-brand cheaper stuff because it wouldn't stay stuck.
Re: PLA part warpage
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:17 pm
by Nylocke
Ok, I went to home depot and got some 1.88" 3M, thanks cope
