I know there are already a ton of threads about the SuperTack plate’s adhesion. This slightly different approach, however, I thought warranted its own thread.
I, too, suffered from warping with large PLA and PETG/PETG-HF. For example, the V2 raiser was an absolute dumpster fire due to warping. Brims just plucked right off the plate after a few layers.
After reading many posts on the subject from different sources, I wanted to perform a test and see the results.
Assumptions:
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Contamination on the plate. I assumed I was possibly introducing some form of releasing agent onto the surface without knowing it.
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PETG on the same plate is a bad idea due to the soft nature of the coating. It’s possible that after printing PETG, a microscopic layer of PETG gets embedded into the surface, rendering PLA averse to the embedded PETG. This means you should dedicate one side for each filament type to avoid contamination.
PLA/PETG leaves a residue/layer after printing that doesn’t wash off with dish soap. I cleaned the plate (both sides) with a Magic Eraser. The Magic Eraser is similar to 3000-5000 grit sandpaper but is much more forgiving than any sandpaper. This was to ensure all oils and possible filament contamination were removed at a microscopic level.
The PLA layer can build up and improve adhesion for subsequent PLA prints. To test this, I printed a 235x235x0.16 sheet (white PLA) to test for contamination and prime the surface with PLA.
Results.
The contamination test was flawless, with no signs of fingerprints or oils. I printed 8 parts, all with large surface areas and 90-degree corners, which lifted the corners on previous prints. This time, 100% of the corners stuck flat. Every subsequent print required additional effort to remove the parts. Flexing was 100% required.
Note: I didn’t wash the plate between prints or touch the surface with my bare hands. I also didn’t blow on the plate to remove any dust or fragments out of fear of spit or other contamination getting blown onto it. Instead, I used a scrap purge line to wipe any debris off the surface.
- I haven’t tested PETG yet, but I will try soon.
Question: I am curious if anyone else has had similar experiences that may align with my own tests. I think the “priming layer” may need to be part of this plate’s SOP. Combined with dedication of material to one side.