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Aluminum Build Platform

by mkellner, published

Aluminum Build Platform by mkellner Jun 27, 2011
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Description

Been thinking about this for awhile. Saw a number of Aluminum build platforms and decided I was sick of the belts.

I can now adjust the platform, and it produces much better corners.

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I did need Kapton on aluminum. I tried scoring the aluminum: http://robotranch.org/blog/arc... but the plastic wouldn't print to that either. Putting Kapton tape atop the scored surface allowed for easier removal of the part, but the tape would come off after a few prints.

So I used Kapton atop the first aluminum surface for quite awhile until I bought the thinner Makerbot aluminum platform.

The trick to removal is using a plastic putty knife at the build surface and a tap or two from a small tack hammer after the piece has cooled a bit.

If I'm overly impatient, I
'll use a blast of compressed air around the base of the objects. This cools them down pretty quick.

I made this Aluminum platform recently - no way that ABS would directly stick on it :'(

bad thing according Kapton: due to the nearly perfect surface you see 'lines' where the Kapton-Tape stripes are ...

BTW: do you know that you can directly order such an Aluminium build-platform in the Makerbot-store meanwhile? I didn't...

plus: they also have 120mm wide Kapton tape available - I already ordered that (but until this arrives here in Germany -5 weeks leadtime- I'll play around with exhaust paint/spray)

I'm not sure if I need Kapton on top of aluminum.

The aluminum is very smooth and will probably not accept the plastic directly. I'll eventually try printing directly to aluminum, but I'm not too hopeful. I think I'll probably end up scoring the aluminum surface as well.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thi... used a plastic slurry.

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aluminum, platform

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Aluminum Build Platform by mkellner is licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial license.

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Instructions

I documented the build here: robotranch.org/blog/archives/134
Aluminum Build Platform by mkellner is licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial license.
By downloading this thing, you agree to abide by the license: Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial

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Joerg on Jun 27, 2011 said:

According the ABP: my TOM arrived with some parts missing for the ABP, so I started with the HBP for the time until the missing parts arrived...

when they finally arrived and I did my first prints with the ABP, I was so disappointed with the results (the belt crumples as it moves!), that I immediatelly assembled the HBP again, and I'm using this until today!

I was thinking to use some heat-resistent glas above the heater to produce nicer results;

but using aluminium is much smarter (plus less expensive!)

(the problem with the HBP as of now is: when it gets hot, the covering tape expands and so the surface is not perfectly flat anymore)

p.s.
do you really need the kapton-tape on top of the aluminium, won't it work stand-alone?
(same problem: the tape slighty expands due to the heat and the platform won't be perfectly flat anymore at operating temperature)

mkellner on Jun 27, 2011 said:

I'm not sure if I need Kapton on top of aluminum.

The aluminum is very smooth and will probably not accept the plastic directly. I'll eventually try printing directly to aluminum, but I'm not too hopeful. I think I'll probably end up scoring the aluminum surface as well.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thi... used a plastic slurry.

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