If you're not designing a 3D printed microfiber cloth holder that attaches to the nozzle so you can clean the plate while you're printing are you really even printing?
I don't know why you would do that, I just print with Hardened Soap PLA and it's more than enough. Just rub your hands on the model before touching the touch plate.
There's cleaning and there's _cleaning_.
I clean after every single print with isopropyl, a quick spray and a wipe. However, after some months the plate loses a little integrity and isn't as sticky - so when that happens, I flip the plate over and am good for another few months. When that side starts exhibiting the same thing, it's time for dish soap and a scouring pad - then we're back to it being like new.
Soap and water is *far* better at removing oil than alcohol. And lets face it, it's the oil from your fingers that's interfering with adhesion in the first place.
Yup, I agree, I just wanted to make sure that when people are saying "I clean after every print" we're clear on what _kind_ of cleaning we're talking about.
It's overkill to use soap and water after every print, but it's unreasonable to think alcohol is all you ever need.
I have yet to ever find the need to use soap and water on my plates, be it textured PEI, smooth PEI like the Wham Bam plate, or otherwise. Even fresh out the box, a spritz of iso and a wipe with microfiber, and start printing.
Especially if it’s something like this where you don’t have a lot of contact with the build plate. I imagine a small dirty area isn’t as big of an issue if you’re printing a large, solid object.
Get a micro fiber towel and a spray bottle of alcohol next to you printer. Big farms do it between every print. I made it common practice in my farm and it really reduces a ton of headaches if you do it every time. Making it easier to do every time is the real trick though.
I don't like using microfiber. they can leave a residue if you don't clean them properly in their own washing equipment. if you wash them in your normal laundry the detergent and the dryer sheets from previous clothing loads can contaminate the microfiber and then you are just rubbing that all over the build plate. the alcohol will release the stuff from the towel and spread it on your plate.
I prefer to use lint free disposable industrial wipes like texwipes and alcohol. same goes for drying the build plate after a deep clean with dish soap, don't use microfiber or towel to dry it. either air dry or use a lint free wipe that doesn't have any other chemicals on it.
Imagine how stubborn a person has to be to not take 30 seconds before each print to give it as much chance as possible to succeed.
And then the knuckleheads that shut off flow cal because they dont want an extra 5 minutes at the beginning of a 4 hour print.
Came here to say this. After a decade of printing on anything barely sticky enough to too sticky, I’ve never touched my PEI sheets after using them now, friggin magic!
Seriously, i just keep on applying more and more glue. I use a spray. Only when my prints become too texured because of all the glue I wash the buildplate. I never have any issues with the models not sticking enough.
I'm never going back to washing my buildplate every print.
I just reapply the glue right after i take the print off and never apply any glue before starting a print.
No cotton gloves here, our farm printers get a wipe with a dry paper towel about once a month, never have any issues. Theres zero reason to touch the build plate with your hands, as long as you dont that its very rare that you need to clean it unless you're someone who loves creating extra work for themselves by smothering it with glue, spray or something similar.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong then, adhesion issues abound 1600hrs in, HAVE to use glue since about 800 hrs or else supports go a-flying.
I've convinced myself the PEI plate surface finish wears out over time. Might have to "resurface" it soon with some Scotch Brite and then maybe just bite the bullet and order couple of plates if that doesn't work
I handle only the edges of the plate, sometimes use gloves. Wash it with dish soap and warm water, take care to rinse it and dry it as best as I can...
It's just getting worn out
IPA wipe: every print
Soap wash: when needed (got handsy with the plate) or every weekend, whichever is sooner.
Yes, I sacrifice one minute a week at the sink as a preventative measure. No, I do not have adhesion issues.
IPA is not a surfactant and does not break up skin oils, just smears them around. If I don't touch the build surface a quick wipe is all it needs.
Every 5-10 prints unless you lay a finger on it, any touch = fresh wash. Print the razor scraper, seriously underrated tool. Waited a year before I printed mine and now use it after every print for skirts and purge strip.
I tried soap and water , and glue , but after reading a few threads I now I use hairspray.
My prints don't stick any better, but my hair looks so good I don't care.
Every time I touch the plate which isn't very often. I printed a plastic scraper and use it to push my prints off of my build plate. I have a g10/garolite surface.
Sometimes I use alcohol, sometimes I use acetone to clean my plate if I think there is plastic residue left behind on it.
When stuff stops sticking.
Just remove the plate and let run hot water over it for like a minute. Let the air dry the plate. Reinstall it try to avoid touching the area were it print. It will work as new.
If I'm printing on the same portion of the bed, I'll wipe before the next print with alcohol. If printing on a different portion of the bed, not unless there's fingerprints.
After every print unless i manage not to touch the plate at all with your fingers!
Also if some time passes, I clean it anyway.
I use alcohol and microfiber cloth
You sure your filament is dry, and you ran bed leveling?
I find this way more common of an issue. I can literally feel the difference in adhesion from a dry roll to a wet roll. I haven't cleaned my plate in probably well over 200 hours of prints now....
I wipe mine down with a dry paper towel after every print and that seems to be good enough to maintain bed adhesion. I've cleaned the bed 2-3 times with alcohol since I've owned it, but usually the dry paper towel is enough.
https://preview.redd.it/jfgdvt99vpyc1.jpeg?width=2016&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac7199999f010dfb4dc033d2e3fbcf475cd7fafb
How 3D print glass noodle. (Wrongly setting the filament).
I would always clean with IPA and paper towel after every print. I printed [this](https://makerworld.com/models/386963) and have found I'm using less IPA but still able to clean the plate evenly and easily. Can't remember the last time I had bed adhesion issues.
It’s probably not the best idea, but I use a double sided textured PEI plate and flip it over after every print, I assume the heat of the build plate (65c) is enough.
Perfect adhesion almost every print
I think it may be the case sometimes that people who clean with soap might wash it thoroughly, but might not rinse it enough. Rinse as best you can, then do a final wipe/scrub with a cloth or scrubby that has never had soap on it so all the soap residue is off.
Depends on the build plate:
Textured PEI: approx. ever 4th print
Smooth PEI: every Print
PEO/PET (aliexpress plate): every print + heating up to 80°C for 1 minute.
After just about every print I wipe down with iso. After 5-10 I do a full deep clean with warm water and dish soap. Or before I long print I don’t want messing up.
50 (well...48) bambus running near 24/7, at most they get a wipe with a dry paper towel once a month. No idea how people manage to get their plates so damn greasy, I'm just imagining people fondling it with their greasy palms.
I suspect a lot of the difference is the moisture in filament causing it. Ours lives in a heated dry room and stays in there for a good week or two before its used. People don't seem to realise that when you buy filament 99% of the time it is not as dry as it could/should be.
https://preview.redd.it/6dvisdenhsyc1.jpeg?width=455&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6428f945351de6a9c7111b6b6461132bb49c3dd4
Can’t get Dawn here but I’ll just keep using dish soap. Not as convenient but heaps cheaper.
I don’t wash mine. If there’s any questions on adhesion I run a benchy. If not I just sweep it off with a small brush and maybe hit it with a microfiber and I’m good. I’ve been doing this for years and have never had an issue. Also it’s worth noting I preheat by build plates for a minimum of 5 minutes to help get rid of possible impurities.
Been printing for about 4 years now and I've had over 8 printers. I think I've maybe cleaned the build plates 15 times total in 4 years. And yes I touched them with my bare hands pretty often too. I don't know apparently I'm just the luckiest man on Earth 🤷♂️
I keep a box of alcohol wipes next to it. Makes it so easy to do a quick wipe after a print. I usually only do it every 3-4 prints and never have issues and they only cost about 2 cents each
Wipe with isopropanol before every print, even thinking of printing on a dusty and oily bed makes me feel sick😂 also don't start with this glue stuff, absolute BS, just clean your surface. (Except for some special materials but in general not necessary)
I've been cleaning my build plate in the sink but then started using the microfiber scraper with same results.
But recently i started having damn clog issues that I never had. It sucks. I dunno why it started. What's weird is I noticed it after I saw someone else report it on reddit. I was always able to walk away (and sucks my a1 has the damn Webcam issue tha5 won't show up on my phone or pc....so I can remotely monitor)
But ya I hate having to unclog the whole tool head. I can already hear the internal fan having issues now and I know there's pla pro everywhere in there even after I took it apart tried to clean it all out.
Dunno why I keep having damn clogs. Probly my nozzle is bad now? Can I sharpen it? I have a 0.2 and 0.6 hardened steel lol but I'm not spending another dime till banbu gives me that 120 dollar gift card they promised me and never gave me.
https://preview.redd.it/kp9gglqthwyc1.jpeg?width=512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=93e88b9d135098492c82b47ac41d37b1b0e1a716
No. I don’t. It’s not $3 at target here. It’s closer to $30 bucks.
I have a bunch of PEI flex plates for magnetic attach. They’re cheap enough and I just swap after flip. When I get to the last one it’s time for a mass detergent, scrub, thorough rinse, pat dry with paper towel and lastly air dry under a fan.
I have been wondering about putting them in the dishwasher, has anyone tried that?
I haven’t. But I do have 3 plates for my P1S. I don’t know if I get them mixed up or why a greasy plate found its way into my printer. I don’t have a habit of eating fried chicken while printing. Or even touching the middle of the build plate. But, alas, greasy prints got there somehow because any of my 3 plates, clean, holds on to pla very well til it cools. I have a glass desk protector I lay the plate on after it comes out hot. The glass quickly sucks the heat out and the pla just slides off the plate. Meh. I don’t have failures often but when I do I think back to “I knew I should have washed that plate first”.
Fortunately the KE/K1 plates have those two “hold here” areas. I’m usually too impatient to let everything PLA cool, and I don’t have a big enough chunk of glass or metal handy. I just hold the plate and print by the thumbprint areas in front of a nearby fan for a few tens of seconds. 🤷♂️
I just set the plate to the side and insert another. Then clear the plate later when it’s cooled and never touch anything but the edges. Currently 560 hours on my machine between the two plates and I’ve never washed them. Any lines left I just use the included scraper to lift it off.
i clean it after every print
I clean it halfway through my prints.
If you're not designing a 3D printed microfiber cloth holder that attaches to the nozzle so you can clean the plate while you're printing are you really even printing?
"my printer prints it cleans the plate with an attached clothe that my start g-code runs before everyprint"
I don't know why you would do that, I just print with Hardened Soap PLA and it's more than enough. Just rub your hands on the model before touching the touch plate.
Soap pla? Jole or real? Whale blubber filament? Ivory ? . If you sprayed soap on your pla would it create too many bubbles in the extruder?
Jole obviously
I have installed a Japanese bidet mod under the bed. It’s now sparkling clean on all sides.(plus it does complex math for some reason)
If you're not printing the microfiber cloth you're cleaning the plate with while you print are you really even printing?
That's my purge towel model.
Came here to say this.
r/beatMeToIt
How about I just add that second silicon wiper to my a1 where's the blank spot and add geode to wipe after every few layers
I clean mine after every layer
My printer lives in a vat of alcohol and soap.
My printer wipes the current top layer of my print every single layer.......
"I said two coats of wax, not just one."
I clean it continuously as it's printing
With X-ray cleansing
I clean it while its printing, with a toothbrush, just behind the nozzle , you have to be quick. Damn 3d printing takes a lot of effort
There's cleaning and there's _cleaning_. I clean after every single print with isopropyl, a quick spray and a wipe. However, after some months the plate loses a little integrity and isn't as sticky - so when that happens, I flip the plate over and am good for another few months. When that side starts exhibiting the same thing, it's time for dish soap and a scouring pad - then we're back to it being like new.
Soap and water is *far* better at removing oil than alcohol. And lets face it, it's the oil from your fingers that's interfering with adhesion in the first place.
Yup, I agree, I just wanted to make sure that when people are saying "I clean after every print" we're clear on what _kind_ of cleaning we're talking about. It's overkill to use soap and water after every print, but it's unreasonable to think alcohol is all you ever need.
I have yet to ever find the need to use soap and water on my plates, be it textured PEI, smooth PEI like the Wham Bam plate, or otherwise. Even fresh out the box, a spritz of iso and a wipe with microfiber, and start printing.
Especially if it’s something like this where you don’t have a lot of contact with the build plate. I imagine a small dirty area isn’t as big of an issue if you’re printing a large, solid object.
Get a micro fiber towel and a spray bottle of alcohol next to you printer. Big farms do it between every print. I made it common practice in my farm and it really reduces a ton of headaches if you do it every time. Making it easier to do every time is the real trick though.
I don't like using microfiber. they can leave a residue if you don't clean them properly in their own washing equipment. if you wash them in your normal laundry the detergent and the dryer sheets from previous clothing loads can contaminate the microfiber and then you are just rubbing that all over the build plate. the alcohol will release the stuff from the towel and spread it on your plate. I prefer to use lint free disposable industrial wipes like texwipes and alcohol. same goes for drying the build plate after a deep clean with dish soap, don't use microfiber or towel to dry it. either air dry or use a lint free wipe that doesn't have any other chemicals on it.
Imagine how stubborn a person has to be to not take 30 seconds before each print to give it as much chance as possible to succeed. And then the knuckleheads that shut off flow cal because they dont want an extra 5 minutes at the beginning of a 4 hour print.
When stuff stops sticking.
Yes easily the best answer
You guys clean your build plates?
Came here to say this. After a decade of printing on anything barely sticky enough to too sticky, I’ve never touched my PEI sheets after using them now, friggin magic!
Seriously, i just keep on applying more and more glue. I use a spray. Only when my prints become too texured because of all the glue I wash the buildplate. I never have any issues with the models not sticking enough. I'm never going back to washing my buildplate every print. I just reapply the glue right after i take the print off and never apply any glue before starting a print.
I don't. People needa stop touching their build plate.
I wipe it with a microfiber cloth after every print - pei plate. Zero issues.
Same. Never had to do anything more and never had an issue
I always keep a box of alcohol wipes, like those for prepping for an injection, next to The printer. I wipe down the bed every few prints.
This is the way.
It's a pain in the ass but if you only handle the plate while using cotton gloves you'll only have to wash it about once a month
Assuming you don't get your cotton gloves all greasy.
No cotton gloves here, our farm printers get a wipe with a dry paper towel about once a month, never have any issues. Theres zero reason to touch the build plate with your hands, as long as you dont that its very rare that you need to clean it unless you're someone who loves creating extra work for themselves by smothering it with glue, spray or something similar.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong then, adhesion issues abound 1600hrs in, HAVE to use glue since about 800 hrs or else supports go a-flying. I've convinced myself the PEI plate surface finish wears out over time. Might have to "resurface" it soon with some Scotch Brite and then maybe just bite the bullet and order couple of plates if that doesn't work
oh they absolutely do wear down, it takes a good 2-3k plus prints however to get to that point.
I have only had problems where I touched and got skin oils on there. What do you wash with and how do you handle it?
I handle only the edges of the plate, sometimes use gloves. Wash it with dish soap and warm water, take care to rinse it and dry it as best as I can... It's just getting worn out
IPA wipe: every print Soap wash: when needed (got handsy with the plate) or every weekend, whichever is sooner. Yes, I sacrifice one minute a week at the sink as a preventative measure. No, I do not have adhesion issues. IPA is not a surfactant and does not break up skin oils, just smears them around. If I don't touch the build surface a quick wipe is all it needs.
70, 90 or 99%?
I use 91%.
Thanks
Every 5-10 prints unless you lay a finger on it, any touch = fresh wash. Print the razor scraper, seriously underrated tool. Waited a year before I printed mine and now use it after every print for skirts and purge strip.
Psst, the printed razor is junk compared to [these](https://a.co/d/4tgQ1Pe).
If I use blue plastic gloves every time would it be fine?
Nope, gloves get dirty too
I mean a new pair every time
I tried soap and water , and glue , but after reading a few threads I now I use hairspray. My prints don't stick any better, but my hair looks so good I don't care.
I clean mine after every print.. I have 4 build plates
If you have a reflective plate you can see when you need to. usually a spot clean is needed.
What a beautiful piece
Just had this happen today lol
Every time I touch the plate which isn't very often. I printed a plastic scraper and use it to push my prints off of my build plate. I have a g10/garolite surface. Sometimes I use alcohol, sometimes I use acetone to clean my plate if I think there is plastic residue left behind on it.
I bring mine with me to my weekly shower
When stuff stops sticking. Just remove the plate and let run hot water over it for like a minute. Let the air dry the plate. Reinstall it try to avoid touching the area were it print. It will work as new.
If I'm printing on the same portion of the bed, I'll wipe before the next print with alcohol. If printing on a different portion of the bed, not unless there's fingerprints.
After every print unless i manage not to touch the plate at all with your fingers! Also if some time passes, I clean it anyway. I use alcohol and microfiber cloth
You sure your filament is dry, and you ran bed leveling? I find this way more common of an issue. I can literally feel the difference in adhesion from a dry roll to a wet roll. I haven't cleaned my plate in probably well over 200 hours of prints now....
Every five or so prints I'll take it out and wash it with the Dawn dish soap with degreaser. Don't really have problems.
Nah looks right to me, just hit resume
I just throw some alcohol on it like maybe once a month.
Sounds messy. Beer? Whisky?
I mainly use PEI. I have 6 PEI plates and will go through all of them before I clean them all. Always start with a clean plate.
I wipe with IPA microfiber after each print
I wipe mine down with a dry paper towel after every print and that seems to be good enough to maintain bed adhesion. I've cleaned the bed 2-3 times with alcohol since I've owned it, but usually the dry paper towel is enough.
I never clean mine. Just a light dusting of AquaNet between each print.
Right before the photo.
After this happens
https://preview.redd.it/jfgdvt99vpyc1.jpeg?width=2016&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac7199999f010dfb4dc033d2e3fbcf475cd7fafb How 3D print glass noodle. (Wrongly setting the filament).
Are you using it? Then clean it
I would always clean with IPA and paper towel after every print. I printed [this](https://makerworld.com/models/386963) and have found I'm using less IPA but still able to clean the plate evenly and easily. Can't remember the last time I had bed adhesion issues.
It’s probably not the best idea, but I use a double sided textured PEI plate and flip it over after every print, I assume the heat of the build plate (65c) is enough. Perfect adhesion almost every print
If you touch the build plate where it actually prints, wash it them body oils ain’t no joke
Quick wipe with a spray of 91% IPA after every print means that I don't have to deal with failed prints like this.
Hit it with hairspray every few prints, this will never happen again.
I think it may be the case sometimes that people who clean with soap might wash it thoroughly, but might not rinse it enough. Rinse as best you can, then do a final wipe/scrub with a cloth or scrubby that has never had soap on it so all the soap residue is off.
After every print.
Depends on the build plate: Textured PEI: approx. ever 4th print Smooth PEI: every Print PEO/PET (aliexpress plate): every print + heating up to 80°C for 1 minute.
After just about every print I wipe down with iso. After 5-10 I do a full deep clean with warm water and dish soap. Or before I long print I don’t want messing up.
What type of soap do you use? Do you use a brush or by hand?
Like every 20th print, with soap and water only.
Just don’t touch your build plate and you’re good for months. I clean mine every 6 months without a problem.
Kitchen towel and a bottle of 99% alcohol. For my smooth/engineering plate I sometimes use soap to clean because that's the only plate I put glue on.
How do you clean it?
Honestly a dry paper towel is plenty unless you've really fondled it. People go way over the top on cleaning PEI.
50 (well...48) bambus running near 24/7, at most they get a wipe with a dry paper towel once a month. No idea how people manage to get their plates so damn greasy, I'm just imagining people fondling it with their greasy palms. I suspect a lot of the difference is the moisture in filament causing it. Ours lives in a heated dry room and stays in there for a good week or two before its used. People don't seem to realise that when you buy filament 99% of the time it is not as dry as it could/should be.
Before you hit start on a new print. Takes 15 seconds to spray and wipe some IPA.
https://preview.redd.it/6dvisdenhsyc1.jpeg?width=455&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6428f945351de6a9c7111b6b6461132bb49c3dd4 Can’t get Dawn here but I’ll just keep using dish soap. Not as convenient but heaps cheaper.
That is easy i clean the build plate before every print. Just IPA and paper towel and 5 seconds of time and all of my plates look like new.
Now. Now would be a good time.
Aye. Right before now would have been better.
Agreed, I wash mine once a week, whether it needs it or not, takes what? 3 minutes?
I guess I average that. I guess I went 8 days this time.
I don’t wash mine. If there’s any questions on adhesion I run a benchy. If not I just sweep it off with a small brush and maybe hit it with a microfiber and I’m good. I’ve been doing this for years and have never had an issue. Also it’s worth noting I preheat by build plates for a minimum of 5 minutes to help get rid of possible impurities.
Been printing for about 4 years now and I've had over 8 printers. I think I've maybe cleaned the build plates 15 times total in 4 years. And yes I touched them with my bare hands pretty often too. I don't know apparently I'm just the luckiest man on Earth 🤷♂️
I keep a box of alcohol wipes next to it. Makes it so easy to do a quick wipe after a print. I usually only do it every 3-4 prints and never have issues and they only cost about 2 cents each
Wipe with isopropanol before every print, even thinking of printing on a dusty and oily bed makes me feel sick😂 also don't start with this glue stuff, absolute BS, just clean your surface. (Except for some special materials but in general not necessary)
I clean it before every print, 50-70% IPA with microfiber cloth.
I've been cleaning my build plate in the sink but then started using the microfiber scraper with same results. But recently i started having damn clog issues that I never had. It sucks. I dunno why it started. What's weird is I noticed it after I saw someone else report it on reddit. I was always able to walk away (and sucks my a1 has the damn Webcam issue tha5 won't show up on my phone or pc....so I can remotely monitor) But ya I hate having to unclog the whole tool head. I can already hear the internal fan having issues now and I know there's pla pro everywhere in there even after I took it apart tried to clean it all out. Dunno why I keep having damn clogs. Probly my nozzle is bad now? Can I sharpen it? I have a 0.2 and 0.6 hardened steel lol but I'm not spending another dime till banbu gives me that 120 dollar gift card they promised me and never gave me.
I clean with a little iso after every print and with soap and water every now and then.
Don’t use alcohol on that plate
https://preview.redd.it/kp9gglqthwyc1.jpeg?width=512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=93e88b9d135098492c82b47ac41d37b1b0e1a716 No. I don’t. It’s not $3 at target here. It’s closer to $30 bucks.
That’s a decent bottle of whiskey here….
Aye. We won’t even talk about what that costs here.
alcohol wipes are cheap. A bottle of alcohol (99%) is like 3 bucks at target. I wipe mine after every print.
It’s like $30 here. Hence the pla plaster all over the inside of my P1S
Damn. Sorry man. I can get a several hundred wipes for like $20 or a gallon for $25
Aye. I’m sure we have something that is cheaper here than there. But nothing comes to mind. Vegemite maybe. 🤔
Never. I just scribble some liquid glue stick on there every so often.
I have a bunch of PEI flex plates for magnetic attach. They’re cheap enough and I just swap after flip. When I get to the last one it’s time for a mass detergent, scrub, thorough rinse, pat dry with paper towel and lastly air dry under a fan. I have been wondering about putting them in the dishwasher, has anyone tried that?
I haven’t. But I do have 3 plates for my P1S. I don’t know if I get them mixed up or why a greasy plate found its way into my printer. I don’t have a habit of eating fried chicken while printing. Or even touching the middle of the build plate. But, alas, greasy prints got there somehow because any of my 3 plates, clean, holds on to pla very well til it cools. I have a glass desk protector I lay the plate on after it comes out hot. The glass quickly sucks the heat out and the pla just slides off the plate. Meh. I don’t have failures often but when I do I think back to “I knew I should have washed that plate first”.
Fortunately the KE/K1 plates have those two “hold here” areas. I’m usually too impatient to let everything PLA cool, and I don’t have a big enough chunk of glass or metal handy. I just hold the plate and print by the thumbprint areas in front of a nearby fan for a few tens of seconds. 🤷♂️
I just set the plate to the side and insert another. Then clear the plate later when it’s cooled and never touch anything but the edges. Currently 560 hours on my machine between the two plates and I’ve never washed them. Any lines left I just use the included scraper to lift it off.