It’s a common frustration for 3D printing enthusiasts: you start a print, everything seems fine, but then, partway through, your creation decides to detach from the build plate. This issue of a 3d Print Not Sticking To Bed is a fundamental challenge, especially for beginners. Understanding why this happens and how to fix it is crucial for successful printing. Often, the culprit is related to temperature and how plastic behaves as it cools.
The Science Behind the Stick: Plastic Shrinkage
Imagine printing a 100mm wide object using ABS plastic. The extruder nozzle heats this plastic to a high temperature, say 230°C, to make it flow. However, when this hot plastic is deposited onto a cooler build platform, it begins to cool rapidly. Some 3D printers even use cooling fans to speed up this process. As the ABS plastic cools down to room temperature (around 30°C), that 100mm width can shrink by nearly 1.5mm!
This shrinkage is a natural property of plastics. The problem arises because your printer’s build platform, usually made of glass or metal, doesn’t shrink at the same rate – it remains relatively dimensionally stable due to its consistent temperature. This difference in shrinkage creates stress at the point of contact between the plastic and the bed. As the plastic contracts and the bed stays put, the edges and corners of your print can lift and detach, leading to the dreaded 3d print not sticking to bed scenario. This is particularly noticeable with the first layer, which is the foundation of your entire print. If the first layer loses adhesion, the rest of the print is doomed to fail.
Heated Bed: Your First Line of Defense for Bed Adhesion
Many 3D printers designed for materials like ABS come equipped with a heated bed. This is a vital feature to combat warping and improve bed adhesion. By heating the bed, you maintain the temperature of the first layer, preventing it from cooling down too quickly and shrinking excessively. For ABS, a heated bed is almost essential.
So, if your printer has a heated bed, using it correctly is a primary solution to 3d print not sticking to bed. As a starting guideline:
- PLA (Polylactic Acid): Adheres well to a bed heated to 60-70°C.
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Generally performs better with a bed temperature of 100-120°C.
You can adjust these temperatures in your slicer software, such as Simplify3D, in the temperature settings. Experimenting within these ranges is key to finding the optimal temperature for your specific filament and printer.
Cooling Fan Control: Fine-Tuning for First Layer Stick
If your printer has a cooling fan, controlling its operation, especially for the initial layers, can significantly improve bed adhesion and prevent 3d print not sticking to bed. Cooling fans are beneficial for solidifying layers quickly after the first few, but they can be detrimental to first layer adhesion if they cause the plastic to cool too rapidly right after being deposited.
Consider disabling the cooling fan for the first few layers. This allows the initial layers to remain warmer, promoting better adhesion to the bed. You can typically adjust fan speed settings in your slicer software’s cooling tab. For example, you might set the fan speed to 0% for the first layer and then gradually increase it to 100% by the 5th layer.
For ABS, it’s often recommended to disable the cooling fan entirely throughout the print to minimize warping and adhesion problems. Again, these settings are adjustable and depend on the specific filament and print requirements.
Environmental Factors: Keep the Drafts Away
Even with a heated bed and controlled cooling, external factors can contribute to a 3d print not sticking to bed. Drafts and breezes in your printing environment can cause uneven cooling, especially at the edges of your print. If you’re printing in a drafty room, consider insulating your printer. Enclosures are popular for printers using temperature-sensitive materials like ABS, as they maintain a stable, warmer environment around the print, minimizing warping and improving bed adhesion.
By understanding the science of plastic shrinkage and carefully controlling temperature through heated beds, cooling fan settings, and environmental considerations, you can significantly reduce instances of 3d print not sticking to bed and achieve more successful and reliable 3D prints.
