Thingiverse
Printing Tips for Glass Beds
by Thingiverse
Last crawled date: 4 years, 3 months ago
I've had some pretty good results printing on a glass bed with no adhesives and thought I would share what works for me.
(Feedback and other advice welcome)
Setup
Print Surface: Printing on the smooth glass side of one of these.
Other Mods
In the interest of full disclosure all other mods are listed here. These mods have not improved print quality as the same results were achieved with the stock hot end.
Hot End: Micro Swiss
Firmware: Marlin 1.1.19
Stepper Isolators: Isolators installed for X and Y steppers only.
Preflight Checks
Clean
Clean the print surface thoroughly a glass bed will give your first layer a mirror like finish. The bad news is that all dirt and defects will be visible.I've had prints pick up a fingerprint from the glass bed, the stuff is basically silly putty.
Once the bed has been properly cleaned a quick wipe down with some alcohol and a paper towel is usually all that is required. However, if you've been printing with an adhesive a good scrubbing with water and dish soap will remove everything.Be sure to dry well and wipe with alcohol to remove any soap residue.
Preheat
Warm up the bed allowing enough time for both the glass and any surrounding metal to reach temperature. If you are unsure how long this takes on your printer, repeatedly level the bed during warm up until it stops "changing".
Preheat the nozzle to 80% of print temp.
Home and Level
Give your bed a quick check before every print using a series of 9 points. This will help you visualize the surface of your bed.
Remember a bed is a flat sheet of metal secured at four points and will therefore behave a bit like a lever. When one corner is pulled down, two other point(s) will act as a pivot and the fourth point will want to go up slightly.
There is a detailed write up in the appendix section about leveling a bed "from scratch". It's a little bit of a read but I've had very good success using this method on several printers.
Executing the Print
Please see the appendix regarding recommended tweaks to printer profiles.
PLA
Material: 198-210; Bed: 52-55 (C).
If it's very cold out or I have had previous warping/adhesion issues I will "build" a temporary enclosure.
Since I haven't built a cabinet yet I use some cheap poster board to create an ad-hoc box around the printer. It isn't elegant but, the poster board stores nicely when not in use, holds plenty of heat, and doubles as a nice white backdrop when taking photos.
First Layer Won't Adhere
Caused by incorrect bed distance / level, dirt, or incorrect print temperature settings
Clean the bed; clean it again.
Check the bed height and level
Higher nozzle and/or bed temp
Less speed
Warping / Corners lifting
This is usually caused by heat differentials near the edge of the print.
Use a brim (they can really help here)
Use an enclosure
Higher bed temp
Print Pops Off Bed (serveral layers in)
Caused by excessive heat differentials, nozzle collisions or "gooey" filament pulling on the print during z moves.
Check bed level
Increase bed temp
Increase nozzle temp
Check z-hop and comb settings
ABS
Material 220-230 bed temp 75-90 (C).
Unless it's the middle of summer ABS will probably need an enclosure.
[To be expanded...]
Appendix
Level From Scratch
When starting with a bed that is wildly out of level identify and set the high point first.
Then, make your adjustments from the center outward, splitting the difference between the high and low points. Always adjust corners last.
Center high point(s)
Front to back
Left to right
Corners
After each adjustment step, return to the previous step(s), in order, and check clearance.
You may need to repeat this cycle several times but the amount of adjustment should decrease each cycle.
Please see the two examples below which will hopefully illustrate this concept.
Example 1 (center high): . My print bed has a slight "upside down U" shape. The center rail is the high point so I adjust in the order shown below.
Adjust for point 1 by turning all four knobs equally
Adjust for points 2 by turning both front or both rear knobs equally
Recheck point 1; split the difference between point 1 and points 2
Adjust for points 3 by turning both left or both right knobs equally
Recheck point 1 and points 2; split the difference between points 1,2,&3
Adjust corners by turning knobs individually
Recheck all points; split the difference between all points
Repeat as needed
Example 2 (center low): My friend's printer is the opposite, a regular U shape where the center rail is the lowest.
Adjust for points 1 by turning both left or both right knobs equally
Adjust for point 2 by turning all four knobs equally
Recheck points 1 and point 2; split the difference between point 1 and points 2
Adjust for points 3 by turning both front or both rear knobs equally
Recheck points 1,point 2, and points 3; split the difference between points 1,2,&3
Adjust corners by turning knobs individually
Recheck all points; split the difference between all points
Repeat as needed
Profile Tweaks
Here are some settings I have altered on my profile.
(links are not hot as they appear in my thumbnails where not desired
Calibrate: (watch this video) www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yIebnVjADMProfiles: all have been set to "magic number" heights (watch this video) www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkT8asT90ASpeed Print speed is 45mm/sRetraction: 4.2mm @ 17mm/sZ-hop: set to initial layer heightZ-hop height: height is set to initial layer heightShell: typically 3 walls and at least .8 mm top and bottom.
Cheats
Hair Spray Tease
Occasionally all of this trickery still isn't enough. When that happens it's Aquanet to the rescue. Use the stuff in the purple can and spray a small amount on a paper towel. Allow to mostly dry and rub down the bed. You probably won't see much difference but you'll feel it.
If that doesn't work you can always fog the glass. (Don't do this while it's on the printer unless you like everything sticky.)
(Feedback and other advice welcome)
Setup
Print Surface: Printing on the smooth glass side of one of these.
Other Mods
In the interest of full disclosure all other mods are listed here. These mods have not improved print quality as the same results were achieved with the stock hot end.
Hot End: Micro Swiss
Firmware: Marlin 1.1.19
Stepper Isolators: Isolators installed for X and Y steppers only.
Preflight Checks
Clean
Clean the print surface thoroughly a glass bed will give your first layer a mirror like finish. The bad news is that all dirt and defects will be visible.I've had prints pick up a fingerprint from the glass bed, the stuff is basically silly putty.
Once the bed has been properly cleaned a quick wipe down with some alcohol and a paper towel is usually all that is required. However, if you've been printing with an adhesive a good scrubbing with water and dish soap will remove everything.Be sure to dry well and wipe with alcohol to remove any soap residue.
Preheat
Warm up the bed allowing enough time for both the glass and any surrounding metal to reach temperature. If you are unsure how long this takes on your printer, repeatedly level the bed during warm up until it stops "changing".
Preheat the nozzle to 80% of print temp.
Home and Level
Give your bed a quick check before every print using a series of 9 points. This will help you visualize the surface of your bed.
Remember a bed is a flat sheet of metal secured at four points and will therefore behave a bit like a lever. When one corner is pulled down, two other point(s) will act as a pivot and the fourth point will want to go up slightly.
There is a detailed write up in the appendix section about leveling a bed "from scratch". It's a little bit of a read but I've had very good success using this method on several printers.
Executing the Print
Please see the appendix regarding recommended tweaks to printer profiles.
PLA
Material: 198-210; Bed: 52-55 (C).
If it's very cold out or I have had previous warping/adhesion issues I will "build" a temporary enclosure.
Since I haven't built a cabinet yet I use some cheap poster board to create an ad-hoc box around the printer. It isn't elegant but, the poster board stores nicely when not in use, holds plenty of heat, and doubles as a nice white backdrop when taking photos.
First Layer Won't Adhere
Caused by incorrect bed distance / level, dirt, or incorrect print temperature settings
Clean the bed; clean it again.
Check the bed height and level
Higher nozzle and/or bed temp
Less speed
Warping / Corners lifting
This is usually caused by heat differentials near the edge of the print.
Use a brim (they can really help here)
Use an enclosure
Higher bed temp
Print Pops Off Bed (serveral layers in)
Caused by excessive heat differentials, nozzle collisions or "gooey" filament pulling on the print during z moves.
Check bed level
Increase bed temp
Increase nozzle temp
Check z-hop and comb settings
ABS
Material 220-230 bed temp 75-90 (C).
Unless it's the middle of summer ABS will probably need an enclosure.
[To be expanded...]
Appendix
Level From Scratch
When starting with a bed that is wildly out of level identify and set the high point first.
Then, make your adjustments from the center outward, splitting the difference between the high and low points. Always adjust corners last.
Center high point(s)
Front to back
Left to right
Corners
After each adjustment step, return to the previous step(s), in order, and check clearance.
You may need to repeat this cycle several times but the amount of adjustment should decrease each cycle.
Please see the two examples below which will hopefully illustrate this concept.
Example 1 (center high): . My print bed has a slight "upside down U" shape. The center rail is the high point so I adjust in the order shown below.
Adjust for point 1 by turning all four knobs equally
Adjust for points 2 by turning both front or both rear knobs equally
Recheck point 1; split the difference between point 1 and points 2
Adjust for points 3 by turning both left or both right knobs equally
Recheck point 1 and points 2; split the difference between points 1,2,&3
Adjust corners by turning knobs individually
Recheck all points; split the difference between all points
Repeat as needed
Example 2 (center low): My friend's printer is the opposite, a regular U shape where the center rail is the lowest.
Adjust for points 1 by turning both left or both right knobs equally
Adjust for point 2 by turning all four knobs equally
Recheck points 1 and point 2; split the difference between point 1 and points 2
Adjust for points 3 by turning both front or both rear knobs equally
Recheck points 1,point 2, and points 3; split the difference between points 1,2,&3
Adjust corners by turning knobs individually
Recheck all points; split the difference between all points
Repeat as needed
Profile Tweaks
Here are some settings I have altered on my profile.
(links are not hot as they appear in my thumbnails where not desired
Calibrate: (watch this video) www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yIebnVjADMProfiles: all have been set to "magic number" heights (watch this video) www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkT8asT90ASpeed Print speed is 45mm/sRetraction: 4.2mm @ 17mm/sZ-hop: set to initial layer heightZ-hop height: height is set to initial layer heightShell: typically 3 walls and at least .8 mm top and bottom.
Cheats
Hair Spray Tease
Occasionally all of this trickery still isn't enough. When that happens it's Aquanet to the rescue. Use the stuff in the purple can and spray a small amount on a paper towel. Allow to mostly dry and rub down the bed. You probably won't see much difference but you'll feel it.
If that doesn't work you can always fog the glass. (Don't do this while it's on the printer unless you like everything sticky.)
Similar models
thingiverse
free
MakerFarm 8" 3mm Borosilicate Glass Bed Leveling Corners by mayaway
...hing in nice, neat proximity.
doesn't hurt to {split} and {auto arrange} in slicer. give your printer an easier time of it...
thingiverse
free
Hank's 3-point bed leveling for Printrbot by Hank-Cowdog
... holes for attaching it may need to be adjusted. the svg file included can be edited using inkscape ( http://www.inkscape.org ).
thingiverse
free
Glass Bed Clip Back by tnsi
...ngiverse
this is a modified piece of nikki81's glass bed clip for printers that use a center point for leveling at 3 points.
thingiverse
free
First Layer Calibration Square (25mm x 25mm x 0.2mm) by GeodeLX
...e same job). if they come out in the 0.19 to 0.21 range, i call it "good" and i move on.
i hope you find this helpful!
thingiverse
free
Creality Ender 5+ Bed Leveling Knob & Indicator Set by jonwienke
...erence between the highest and lowest corners to be less than 0.03mm, but anything less than 0.05mm is good enough in most cases.
thingiverse
free
Bed adjuster for Davinci 2.0 by georgarloese
...0 by georgarloese
thingiverse
bed adjusting knobs for davinci 2.0
60 deg turn (1 knob) gives 8 point on the calibration numbers.
thingiverse
free
Test Cubes by craigj
...re advanced test tools like temp towers and overhang tests to fine tune temps, speeds, fans if you want to really dial things in.
thingiverse
free
Anet A8, Prusa glass bed bracket / holder by schnuffi
...
you'll need 2 x corner a and 2x corner b.
mount the corners with the higher side pointing to the front/back of your printer.
thingiverse
free
Tevo Tornado Leveler Knob by ianj001
...ra
this may work on a cr-10 too.
if you make one, please post a make on here, that's what keeps me publishing to thingiverse.
thingiverse
free
FlashForge Creator Pro Print Bed Stabilizer by DaddyOh5150
...nable to turn them (hand tight, do not over tighten!).
proceed with your preferred method for leveling your bed. happy printing!
Glass
thingiverse
free
Glass
...glass
thingiverse
wine glass
thingiverse
free
Glass corner for 5mm glass
...glass corner for 5mm glass
thingiverse
fit 5mm glass on anet a6 heated bed.
thingiverse
free
Glasses protection / Sun glasses by 3DPhilou
...glasses protection / sun glasses by 3dphilou
thingiverse
glasses protection / sun glasses
thingiverse
free
MIERUNDES glasses on glasses stabilizer by INOUETAICHI
...mierundes glasses on glasses stabilizer by inouetaichi
thingiverse
mierundes glasses on glasses stabilizerhttp://mierundes.com/
thingiverse
free
Google Glass to Glasses Adapter by DDRBoxman
...google glass to glasses adapter by ddrboxman
thingiverse
hook up google glass to your glasses
thingiverse
free
Glasses
...glasses
thingiverse
i broke my glasses, so... why i cant design new one?
thingiverse
free
Glass Clip for 3mm glass by rdsail
...glass clip for 3mm glass by rdsail
thingiverse
bed glass clip for 3mm glass
it requires 3mm screw 10 or 12mm long and 3mm nut
thingiverse
free
Glasses by MakerAmit
...glasses by makeramit
thingiverse
glasses
thingiverse
free
glass by eezequielayala
...glass by eezequielayala
thingiverse
glass
thingiverse
free
glass by 24mrich
...glass by 24mrich
thingiverse
glass
Tips
thingiverse
free
tip
...tip
thingiverse
tip idk, just school project
thingiverse
free
Tip
...tip
thingiverse
tip for rolling.
in download included:
.stp
.f3d
.stp
thingiverse
free
Just The Tip - Tip Jar by robman2122
...just the tip - tip jar by robman2122
thingiverse
just a simple tip jar i created.
thingiverse
free
Drumstick Tip
...drumstick tip
thingiverse
replacement drumstick tip.
use if old tip is worn or lost.
thingiverse
free
straw tip
...straw tip
thingiverse
straw tip
thingiverse
free
BeyBlade Tips by CosmicSniper17
...beyblade tips by cosmicsniper17
thingiverse
you get the quake tip, spike tip, and a cubed tip
thingiverse
free
TS 100 Tip Box (12 Tips) by lukeone
...ts 100 tip box (12 tips) by lukeone
thingiverse
for 12 tips
have fun!
thingiverse
free
Solder Tip Stand
...solder tip stand thingiverse solder tip stand for 900mt tips print laterally and use...
thingiverse
free
tip support by RicardoPina
...tip support by ricardopina
thingiverse
tip support
thingiverse
free
Tip Top by The_LAB
...tip top by the_lab
thingiverse
tip top
Beds
thingiverse
free
bed by
...bed by
thingiverse
pink bed with a white pillow
thingiverse
free
Kossel Plus bed holder for aluminium bed with glass bed
...kossel plus bed holder for aluminium bed with glass bed
thingiverse
pla
thingiverse
free
bed by Syzguru11
...bed by syzguru11
thingiverse
bed
thingiverse
free
bed by callsaul
...bed by callsaul
thingiverse
bed
thingiverse
free
BED by leonk
...bed by leonk
thingiverse
bed
thingiverse
free
Bed by FaserMok
...bed by fasermok
thingiverse
bed
thingiverse
free
Bed by alexdfox
...bed by alexdfox
thingiverse
bed maker
thingiverse
free
bed stanchion
...bed stanchion
thingiverse
top of a bed stanchion
thingiverse
free
bed by bhawkinscds
...bed by bhawkinscds
thingiverse
four post bed
thingiverse
free
bed by EricG
...bed by ericg
thingiverse
bed by eric [created on 3dtin]
Printing
thingiverse
free
for print by Kieran20
...for print by kieran20 thingiverse for printing ...
thingiverse
free
Test Print - Calibration Print by fischer99
...nt settings. includes bridge, overhang, square walls and round walls.
i print with 20% infill, 3 shells, skirt only, no support.
thingiverse
free
Printing by munchanc
...printing by munchanc
thingiverse
things to print
thingiverse
free
Test Print
...test print thingiverse much fun by printing ...
thingiverse
free
Print test
...print test
thingiverse
i use it to test print parameters for new materials
thingiverse
free
PRINTED by t_kondo
...printed by t_kondo thingiverse it's just a 3d printing typeface...
thingiverse
free
3D Printed ball (Print Your own) by 001002003004
...3004
thingiverse
print your own ball
steps
download the size you want to print
double click on the file
click print
thingiverse
free
3d Printing Support Test Print
...can learn more about using supports in cura on the drvax youtube channel and by watching this video:
https://youtu.be/qko_ayibp8k
thingiverse
free
Print on Fabric - small test print by OeG3D
...ingiverse
we tried to print on fabric as shown in https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2787803
use the link above for instructions.
thingiverse
free
Print Scoop by Gibson1990
...print scoop by gibson1990
thingiverse
scoop for lifting 3d prints off the print bed