Made something in ABS and it ripped the PEI sheet off in the middle. Can’t order another one due to budget reasons. Is the glass bed underneath okay to print on without the sheet?
Printing directly on glass won’t hurt anything but getting the print to stick may be challenging. A glue stick might be necessary. A search for 3D printing on glass yields multiple links.
Yes, you can flip it over and use the other side, that’s one of the features of the modular bed used on the Pro.
However, ABS generally self-releases from PEI once the bed cools down below 50c. If you had ABS stick so hard it tore PEI, your Z offset is too low. That slight cushioning from the PEI sheet may have been the only thing that kept you from cracking the glass.
For most materials, you’ll need to use some gluestick or other bonding/release agent to effectively use bare glass. But, there’s a reason that nobody prints directly to glass unless it’s absolutely necessary anymore. It’s so prone to failure that you’re likely to waste more material trying to get it to work right than you’ll spend getting a new surface.
At this point, I’d recommend doing an inexpensive spring steel magnetic sheet. I’ve been extremely happy with the fysetc one (https://www.amazon.com/FYSETC-Printing-Textured-Flexiable-Geeetech/dp/B07V9DY7SM). You might have to use a rotary tool with a cutoff wheel to trim for the washers though. You absolutely will need to change your Z offset with this type of bed stuck to the old one.
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Thanks gents. I’ve been eyeing the borosilicate glass bed too. Any thoughts or experience with that?
The Pro comes with a borosilicate glass bed. (specs from here: LulzBot TAZ Pro | LulzBot)
It’s great as far as glass beds go, but it’s inferior to the octograb, and, as you’ve experienced, if something’s stuck to a rigid bed, it can easily lead to damage. Magnetic beds are the way to go.
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Sounds like a lot of adhesion but if it is that seriously consider a magnetic bed
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Borosilicate isn’t “textured” glass?
No.
(wikipedia) Borosilicate glass is a type of glass with silica and boron trioxide as the main glass-forming constituents. Borosilicate glasses are known for having very low coefficients of thermal expansion, making them more resistant to thermal shock than any other common glass.
It’s glass that is great for print beds because it doesn’t warp as much as standard glass would when it’s getting heated to 100c (or higher).
Is there a textured glass option for the Pro?
I haven’t seen textured glass as a print surface for any printer anywhere.
Rats. Well I’ll be getting the magnetic plate instead. Thanks for the advice.
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I highly recommend textured beds because they have more grip also you might need a upgrade for a magnetic bed also be sure to contact support about the relevel to adjust to the bed & remember to wash the bed every once & a while