No need for glue on the cold plate. Change the 1st layer height

Bambu Lab P1 Series General Discussions
1

This may be common knowledge, so I apologize if this has already been discussed.

In a nutshell … for Generic PLA, I can use the cold plate with no glue. I have changed the first layer height from z-0.04 to z+0.9 in the printer start gcode near the end where it tests for the PEI plate, and I select the PEI plate even tho I am using the cold plate.

Explanation:

After a couple of tall print failures (lift off) using the PEI plate, I decided to buy the cold plate and use glue. I was able to successfully finish my prints. But a friend had great success using an old surface he used to use on another printer and he simply raised the first layer so that it wouldn’t stick like super glue.

His surface looked a lot like my cold plate surface so I decided to give it a go.

It worked with great success !!

I can create different profiles for different levels of “stick” (-0.04 being the default PEI setting and WARNING! you might never be able to remove the print, and +0.9 where the print can be removed with a fair bit more effort than with the PEI plate. (wait for the plate to cool from 65 to room temp first)

Be aware that you may have to experiment with this setting with different filaments.

So now I use the PEI plate for general prints, and the cold plate with no glue for tougher models requiring more adhesion. Changing that number gives me control over the level of “stickiness”.

Note: I did use an old cold plate (used about 10 times) which I’d cleaned off all the glue with soapy water and then Isopropyl Alcohol so I believe the plate was completely cleaned of glue.

I suggest that you experiment with a small test object with an old cold plate first before committing a large print. If it doesn’t work for you, you might never be able to remove it, so experiment at your own risk !

A neater solution may be to remove the PEI code section and replace it with the “G9.1 Z+0.9” line of code, but it works fine as it is.

image

4 Likes
2

I’ve never used glue on my plates for PLA. Just raised the bed temp to 55 and they hold on while printing And release easily when cooled down. I use eSun PLA+ and Bambu PLA

2 Likes
3

Just FYI for anyone reading this in 2023 who just wants it to work and doesn’t want to buy an extra PEI sheet.

The default “cold plate” shipped with the printer works like a charm and stick very well if you know how to use it. No need to change the first layer height or any changes in g-code at all.

  • only use for PLA (despite what the sticker says),
  • set bed temp at minimum 45C for non-Bambu Lab PLA, so not exactly “cold” :wink: (I’m getting excellent results at 53C without glue using “generic” Filright PLA and PLA+),
  • use default bed temp for Bambu Lab PLA Basic and Matte,
  • add glue stick when using Bambu Lab PLA Matte as its stick way too well otherwise.

Always apply these rules in this order:

  • Raise the bed temp if it doesn’t stick,
  • Apply glue if parts are too hard to remove (e.g. Bambu Lab PLA Matte).
1 Like
4

Thanks for coming back,
For information I used the method of the your, for PLA SILK no problem, we can print with the plate at 55°C, as long as we let the plate cool down before removing the print, we don’t need to glue, for the PLA SILK I presice, it is necessary to do tests I presume.

5

Beginner’s question: What’s actually bad about using the glue?

6

My biggest complaint against glue is the extra time and effort it requires. Glue takes time to apply, should be washed off and re-applied every few prints. Glue stick can be hard to apply evenly, causing an imprint on the bottom surface of the print. There are tricks to spread it more evenly, but again, that requires more time.

I still use it with every print except on my PEI plate, which usually needs no glue with compatible filaments.

7

I use Dimafix for tricky prints and ABS. It takes 2-3 seconds to apply. It’s liquid so it evens out and leaves a thin film but dries very quickly. But indeed if your part has a large foot print you’ll have to wash that off. Depending on how much accumulated on the build plate after a while, you’ll need to wash that too.
If like me you have a lot of build plates (30+) you can put them in the dishwasher on a short low temp 10min cycle without detergent.

1 Like
8

Thank You for this info!