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PC/ABS Adhering to heated bed

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:16 pm
by DanHall
We are having a heck of a time getting PC/ABS to adhere to the heat bed. Have tried different temps, glue stick, ABS goo, all the stuff that we have used in the past for standard ABS. We have done hundreds of prints on multiple printers with ABS but this is our first run at the PC alloy. The filament we are using is Proto Pasta. Haven't tried PET or PEI yet but don't want to drop a sheet on if it isn't going to work well. I have a sheet of PEI but the tape hasn't come yet and I'm currently out of PET but can get more. Is there a magical formula that I haven't stumbled across yet?

The prints are generally cylindrical at the base with a 2"-4" radius and about 5mm thick.

Re: PC/ABS Adhering to heated bed

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:27 pm
by DanHall
Oh, and this is on a Fusion3 cartesian with a E3D V6 hot end, not one our Rostocks, but you are my go to group for printing problems. I have another E3D hot end for one of the deltas but I'm hoping to get this working before I install it and run these on the delta. This cartesian came with the E3D hot end so no work necessary for testing purposes. We have a couple of other cartesians as well with all metal, PC capable hot ends too (Airwolfs). ABS is still my standard material but we are looking at branching out a bit into some specialty applications that would benefit from the extra strength.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Re: PC/ABS Adhering to heated bed

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:12 am
by elmoret
You need a very hot bed, 120C+. A heated enclosure doesn't hurt either. I think the Fusion has a part cooling fan, I'd keep that off.

Re: PC/ABS Adhering to heated bed

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:42 am
by Neptune
elmoret wrote:You need a very hot bed, 120C+. A heated enclosure doesn't hurt either. I think the Fusion has a part cooling fan, I'd keep that off.
Don't most Bed heaters struggle to get to 120C? I know that is the Max rating on the Rostock Max V2.

Re: PC/ABS Adhering to heated bed

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 11:19 am
by Nylocke

Re: PC/ABS Adhering to heated bed

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:46 pm
by DanHall
Thanks all, I'll ramp up the bed temp higher after checking the max temp. I don't remember their recommended high off the top of my head. I was busy tonight with final calibration on a new delta and homework with the kiddo.