How to keep my buildplate in good shape

I made some designs, simple boxes with a lid, where I have to print the lid upside down in order for it to print well without supports. So as a result, the first layer is actually the top layer. My first layer prints very well, but my issue is with some sort of residu on the buildplate. Even though I clean my plate after almost every print, sometimes the printed shape remains visible on my buildplate. Then, if I want to print something else, the old shape transfers into the new print.

I have tried glue, and this works to that extent that the print does not transfer to the buildplate, but then the glue stripes transfer to my print and make it look bad…

Does anyone know of any solution? I clean my buildplates with soap and water. And also I tried to clean them with IPA. Also, I let the prints cool down completely, before removing them from the buildplate.

I have had imprints left on the plate when using hot printed filaments like PC in combination with an overdose of impatience when wanting to remove the pieces before full cool down.
I am being a bit more careful nowadays :wink:

If you want to get a really good adhesive & release film onto your build plate, use a glue stick to draw a few lines onto the freshly cleaned build plate, take a rather moist cloth to dissolve those lines of PVA and swirl the solution evenly across the build plate. Once dried, there’ll be a really nice, even and (depending on build plate) almost invisible thin film of PVA on the entire build plate that keeps the model in place during printing, helps during release by being water soluble and leaves no marks on the print. The approach works on textured and smooth plates alike.

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Hi, you don’t mention the build plate type/finish. For myself, using a textured plate would probably be my choice in this situation. I also use the Bambu high temperature smooth PEI Plate. But cannot say that I have ever noticed any previous printed images appearing. When using this plate, I wash the plate with soap and water and then apply the Bambu liquid printing adhesive. Just by painting loosely spaced glue lines vertically and horizontally. Someone advised me to do this primarily to protect the PEI surface. Anyway, it’s worked for me. I can use the plate several times. Here is a photo. This plate is due for a soap wash and glue re-application. I wonder what happens to a smooth plate, like when does it have to be resurfaced?

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Hi, I just posted a somewhat similar reply. I like the idea of using the moist cloth to spread the newly applied adhesive, I will try this and see if it works well when using the liquid adhesive - thanks.

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I used the liquid glue very much like shown in your pic until I came across a rather elaborate thread on best plate preparation describing the thin PVA film approach. In that case, it was even recommended to use a mixture of water and IPA but I have found water and just the PVA stick to be most satisfactory already. Unfortunately, I could not retrieve that post when I searched just now.

Nowadays, I only really make a thin PVA coat application using the solid stick and a moist cloth every half a dozen prints or so.

Ik gebruik geen lijm en gebruik alcohol 70% en werkt perfect met de hechting

I mainly use the high temperature smooth PEI plate, because I like the smooth finish. Does the glue not transfer to your print, the way you applied it? I use the liquid glue too, but all lines transfer. I have tried to dissolve the lines, but I must be doing something wrong, because they remain visible. Maybe it is because I use a black filament? Is PVA similar to the gluestick / liquid glue?

Hi, well I have adopted the method suggested by @EnoTheThracian. ie. I quickly wipe the smooth PEI build plate up and down and sideways with the liquid glue, then use a moist cloth to spread it. It becomes invisible as its so thin. I generally do not use glue on a textured plate. Here I did some calibration yesterday using the smooth plate. There is no trace of glue.

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I think I did not let the plate cool down enough. I now remove the buildplate from the printer and only remove the print once it is at room temperature.

Also, the glue / water combination does work, but it takes some practice to smooth it out evenly…

This is my trick…