I’ve printed a lot and almost exclusively have used the stock PEI textured plate. I figured I’d try Bambu’s PEI smooth plate but got a weird result. I got the “bubbling” on the plate which I read is pretty normal for smooth plates and I’m trying the 10m at 100c to fix that.
But worse than that is the print itself. It looks fantastic except each piece (2) has what looks like a water stain. It’s obviously not that but that’s the only way I can describe it. I’m thinking it might even line up with where the heating element is on the bed.
This is using Bambu PLA, stock filament profile.
I used Bambu’s Smooth / High Temp Plate setting. I’m wondering if I should have customized this for a lower temp?
Can you share a photo of the naked build plate? This will provide the other half of the equation and allow the community to offer up more concise feedback.
Thanks for posting that pic. So what I was looking for I did not find. The plate is obviously pristine. Two tests you will want to run next.
Flip the plate and see if the same results occur on the other side.
Print a 220x220x0.5mm Cube primitive as a first layer test. Take two pictures and post it.
First picture is the first layer still on the build plate.
Second picture is the sheet that you carefully peeled off so as not to tear it and hold it up to a light source and take a picture of it with the light shining through.
What we are looking for is adhesion issues with the build surface. If the flip side does not show any of the same marks, it means the first side may have contaminants or the PEI sticker was improperly applied at the factory.
Just for thoroughness though, if you don’t already have one, a IR thermometer is a good thing to have in your kit to verify the build plate temps. If your built plate sticker is separating from the steel, the thermometer will pick that up via variations in measurements. They cost between $10-$20 on Amazon. They have a lot of uses even outside of 3D printing even if it’s just to check your air condition output duct or your kitchen oven so the tool will never go to waste. Buy the cheapest version because inside, they all come from the same factory. Just make sure you get one with a laser spotter so you can more easily aim it.
I too have that often on smooth plates. I don’t use the original Bambu smooth plate because I don’t like the sticker. Other smooth plates are powder coated. But the effect is the same.
I think it happens when you detach the print from the plate. In my experience, PLA and PETG don’t fully release after cool down. So you need a little bit of bending and force to remove the print. Typically you can bend the plate and it detaches largely but not fully. When you remove the part using your hand, the area that is still adhering looks exactly like your central area.
Does that sound familiar?
I don’t care much about it, but there are some things you could try: When bending the plate, bend the edges up instead of down. If the part is loose enough or small enough, it will jump of the plate suddenly.
You could also try dripping some IPA around the edge of the part. I haven’t tried that yet myself, but I heard it will creep between part and plate, reducing the remaining adhesion or at least when you bend the plate it will further creep in and prevent that edge.
If you have a heat gun or torchlighter, see if blasting that discoloration with a quick burst of heat makes it go away.
I’ve never seen bed marks show up like a “puddle” like that, real wierd, but if its heatbed temp related this is a good test. If it clears it, its kinda a bad sign about your bed, but you might want to try to dial down bed temp 5-10degC, and if first layer stops sticking, increase firstlayer nozzle temp 10-20 degC to attempt to compensate
First off, I’ve gotta say I’m a newbie at printing, but it’s been great to try everything possible, and I noticed the same thing when I use a smooth plate. In quite a few prints, you can see ghost patterns from previous prints on the flat surface. But isopropanol and a paper towel remove these marks from the printed piece completely in my experience. Try it on some test piece first, but I think this is the solution for you.
