Are there sources for 5mm thick PEI sheets? I haven’t been able to find a supplier.
1/4" is closest to 5mm
Something like this would be a huge QoL improvement
I don’t think thick pei would be a good choice since pei is more of a thermal insulator than a conductor. When the pei is thin it’s not much of an issue when if it is thick then that’s an entirely different ball game.
https://www.makeitfrom.com/material-properties/Polyetherimide-PEI
I wish I knew more about metals, magnetism, heat, and where to source the materials. With my BlTouch mod a magnetic flexible bed would be a perfect compliment.
Magnets + Modular heat bed + Buildtak Flexplate w/PEI
I am going to try a heatbed I found on Aliexpress which is a 300watt PCB style with a 3mm aluminum plate and it comes with a spring steel sheet already. The heatbed has magnets under it similar to what the newest Prusa has. Supposedly high temp magnets so it should work at 110c. Long wait time to get it unfortunately.
I’m going to set it up so I can level the bed with screws and at the same time remove the linear rods and go to 2 mgn12H linear rails.
I’ve switched my Taz 6 over to a Duet Wifi mainboard and I have a BL-Touch on it for mesh bed leveling now.
Here’s the link for the heated bed I’m going to try.
And fyi, Mcmastercarr sells high temperature magnetic sheets you could use that are rated for temps up to 250*F or 121C. The only downside is they are only 9" wide so you would have to piece it together. You can get them 9" x 24" https://www.mcmaster.com/flexible-magnets and scroll down.
Another option for US based magnetic spring steel bed is a the new Wham Bam system which was a kickstarter that is now complete and for sale. You could need a heater though since it just goes on top so you could adhere the magnetic sheet to the existing glass if you remove the PEI and use it that way.
Check with MakersMuse. Angus has a work around.