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Beginner question relating to blue tape for the print bed

Discussion in 'General Questions' started by Trama, Dec 28, 2015.

  1. Trama

    Trama Member

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    I just started using blue tape for my print bed, I know that your not supposed to heat the bed if you use blue tape. What about filaments that need heating like abs or petg.


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    #1 Trama, Dec 28, 2015
  2. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Who told you that?

    You heat the bed for filaments that need it -- regardless of what you are using to help the print stick.
    No reason you can't heat the bed with the tape on it.
    Or hairspray.
    Or glue stick.
    Or some combination of them :)
     
    #2 mark tomlinson, Dec 29, 2015
  3. Trama

    Trama Member

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    I've just seen in my research that heating the bed with blue tape cause it to not be as tacky with pla. Since I am only just starting with petg I want to see what the experience of others has been


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    #3 Trama, Dec 29, 2015
  4. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Due to environmental conditions (room temperature, humidity, etc) there is no one certain solution.
    You need to experiment with test models to find what works best.

    Regardless, if the bed needs to be heated you can do that regardless of what you put down.
    I have used blue tape and a heated bed for many, many hours of ABS, PET, PETG, Nylon, etc.

    I gave that up a while back and now just use hairspray on the bare glass except for certain flavors of nylon.

    I changed because hairspray is cheaper than the blue tape :) not because the painters tape didn't work.
     
    #4 mark tomlinson, Dec 29, 2015
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  5. usafitz

    usafitz Member

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    Definitely heat the bed... But be careful when you take the print off the bed. I always heat the bed to about 60 and wait 10 mins. Then, peel the tape around the print, pry with your tool, and pull the tape at an angle from the print. Most of my prints, while using tape, had tons of tape residue when finished.

    Now I just use hairspray... Much easier than tape! Use windex to remove old hairspray. Spray it, and let it sit for a min, then scrape it with a razor. A prepped bed lasts two or three prints.
     
    #5 usafitz, Dec 31, 2015
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  6. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    I agree, but note that printing on the blue tape is easier to get going -- it is more forgiving about how good the first layer is :)

    I made the switch off of blue tape a while back. Glass is better.
     
    #6 mark tomlinson, Dec 31, 2015
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  7. WheresWaldo

    WheresWaldo Volunteer ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)
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    Yep hairspray on bare glass ftw.

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    #7 WheresWaldo, Dec 31, 2015
  8. Trama

    Trama Member

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    I do love using just the glass and glue stick. Easier to contain.


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    #8 Trama, Dec 31, 2015

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