Did you know that you connected your 3D printer ready to start printing, and the 3D printer failed? If that happens to you when you least expect, don’t get a panic attack. These issues are typical to many 3D printers. What you need to learn is how to clean your 3D printer bed.
We will discuss why cleaning the printer bed might be the solution to a failed printer. We will also explain to you how you can clean different types of 3D printer beds.
3D printers might fail to work when the parts detach from the printing bed. Regular touching leaves oil on the glass printing bed, while sometimes melted filament particles might get stuck on the bed. To improve the adhesion, it is important to clean the bed regularly.
This video is a step-by-step guide on how you clean your 3D printer bed. To add to the video, this guide will describe how you clean glass, PEI, and Adhesive tape of the 3D printer bed.
Glass Bed
Amongst the common material used for 3D printers, glass is one of the common. It provides a smooth and leveled surface for printing.
Most of the time, a 3D printer glass bed does not provide the necessary adhesion. You, therefore, need to work with glue sticks and hairspray for reinforcements. When the adhesives build-up, the glass stops producing quality prints. Touching the glass with greasy hands will also interfere with future adhesion.
Cleaning Glass 3D Printer Bed
Below is a simple step-by-step guide on how you clean your 3D glass bed;
- The first step when you want to clean your 3D printer Bed is detaching it from the printer. In doing so, you are reducing the chances of damaging other components of the 3D printer.
- In case of stuck melted filament or glue, use a scrapper. Heat the bed if possible to make the stuck material soft and easy to remove. Practice caution when using a sharp scrapper. You might harm yourself or break the glass bed.
Hold the handle of the scrapper with one hand, and the other hand should be pressing down gently on the glass bed. This helps in creating the necessary force to remove the glue residue. - If a scrapper is not effective, you can use a scrubber to clean the glass bed. Apply soapy water on the glass and start scrubbing. Avoid using too much force to reduce the chances of breaking the glass. Wipe the glass with a soft dry towel after cleaning.
- Another effective, long-lasting cleaning technique is to use gentle cleaning agents such as Acetone, highly concentrated IPA, alcohol pads, and cleaning agents. Avoid using concentrated cleaning agents in a non-ventilated room. It might cause some respiratory infections.
When using Acetone, place some on stuck glue and filaments. Give it a few minutes and wipe with a towel paper. You can also pour a cleaning agent on a towel and wipe the glass surface.
Related: Creality ender 3 bed size vs print volume
When to Clean
Cleaning a glass bed depends on a number of reasons. If you print regularly, then you might need to clean your 3D glass printer bed. If you use a lot of glue sticks, you might need to clean them before using the printer again.
Some 3D printer beds provide enough adhesion on their own. You might need to clean the printing bed once in a while if you have to search for a machine.
PEI Sheet
Another material gaining popularity as a 3D printer bed material is the polyetherimide (PEI) sheets. This material does not require additional adhesives like hairsprays. However, they should be cleaned regularly.
You cannot clean PEI sheets using a scrapper or a scrubber. PEI sheets are delicate, and scrapping can damage the material. How do you clean PEI sheets?
Process of cleaning PEI sheets
- Acetone: dampen a piece of cloth with acetone liquid and wipe off the surface of PEI sheets. The Acetone will melt all the stuck filament or the glue that is stuck on the sheets.
Ensure you do this in a ventilated room. Acetone is highly flammable and hazardous to hour respiratory system. - In the case of oil from regularly touching the 3D printer bed, use an unscented IPA. For the IPA to clean the sheets effectively, use one with a concentration of 70%.
- If your PEI sheet is old, you can scrub gently to smoothen the surface, and if it does not work anymore, buy a new sheet.
How to Clean 3D Printer Adhesive Tape Beds
3D printer bed made of Adhesive tapes are one of the most difficult materials to clean. Despite being too difficult to clean, Adhesive tapes provide enough grip, are easy to clean, and are inexpensive to purchase. One problem is that when removing a print from the bed, some adhesive tape peels off.
After you finish printing, use a blunt object like a spatula to clean off the adhesive tapes. During cleaning, take note of spots left after the tapes peel off and reapply.
Adhesive tape might provide a smooth surface for printing. But it is a real hustle to keep reapplying tape after every print.
Tips to use when cleaning 3D printer Bed
1. Detach the bed from the printer
Liquids used for cleaning the 3D printer might damage some other components of the printer. Before you start cleaning, make sure you detach carefully.
Detaching the bed will also improve the ease of cleaning every single part of the bed.
2. Heat the bed
If you are using a glass printer bed, you can heat it up first. Heating makes the stuck filament and glue become soft for easy removal.
Make sure you use a protective cloth to touch the bed to avoid getting injured or burned.
3. Use IPA with a concentration of 70%
To make sure that your PEI sheet is cleaned, a cleaning agent with 70%is needed. The reason why you are using IPA with 70% content is that it penetrates the surface making sure every bacteria is killed. The 70% IPA has a 30% water content that reduces the rate of evaporation. Therefore giving you ample time to clean.
4. Do not scrub an adhesive tape printing bed
Some beds that are made of adhesive tape are difficult to clean. If you use a scrubber, you might end up damaging the tape more. What you do is dampen a soft towel with IPA solution and clean the surface.
Alternatively, you can use soapy water but make sure you have detached the bed.
You should also reapply tape to places where it is peeling.
5. Wiping the 3D printer frequently will maintain adhesiveness
If you do print regularly, It is impossible to clean the 3D printer bed after every use. However, you should try and wipe the 3D printer bed after 2 days of use, depending on your usage. For those that print once in a while, you can clean after work.
Mini cleaning will help maintain adhesiveness before deep cleaning your printer.
If there are stuck filament and glue on the printer bed, make an effort to remove it before you start printing again.
Taking care of your 3D printer will improve the quality of your prints. A printer’s bed is one of the parts that, if it is not up to the standard, your prints will be mediocre.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I buy 70% IPA?
If you are looking for a liquid to disinfect and clean your 3D printer bed, then IPA 70% is the ideal cleaner.
You can buy the liquid in anyretail store outlet, drug store air even websites like Amazon.
Make sure the liquid is 70% alcohol as IPA with a concentration of 50% is too low and 99% is too high. - After how long should I clean the 3D printer?
Depending on how frequently you use the printer, you can clean after a week or after a month. For those who use too much adhesive like glue and hairspray, it is advisable to clean your 3d clarity glass bed at least after a week. This prevents the build-up of adhesives.
The type of 3D printer you have also determine how frequent you clean the printer bed. You might be forced to clean an Ender 3 bed after every project. - Is a glass 3D printer bed durable?
Of all the materials used in a 3D printer bed, glass is the most durable and most efficient. A glass bed provides a leveled surface where you can produce your print with ease.
It is also easy to clean since when you heat up the glass, the build-up material loosens.A glass bed can withstand high temperatures generated during printing. - How do I remove PLA from the printer bed?
PLA is quite resistant to water and other cleaning agents like Acetone. If there is PLA stuck on your 3D printer bed, hear up the bed to soften the PLA, then use a scrapper to remove it from the bed.
Related: 3d printer heated bed guide
Conclusion
Cleaning the 3D printer bed is not very complicated. The guide above will give you ideas on how you can clean different types of printing surfaces.
Make sure you detach the bed from the printer. This reduces the chances of damaging other components. You should also make sure you dry the bed after cleaning to make sure the grip is maximum.
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