Solving the problem with adhesion of 3D printing to the table

How to increase the adhesion of 3D printing?

1. Table leveling

If your printer has an adjustable bed and you are having issues with adhesion, check if your bed is level.

An uneven bed can mean that one side is closer to the nozzle while the other side is too far away, creating a difficult printing environment. Additionally, if your table is uneven, it may result in your print being warped or cracked.

The process of leveling the bed depends on your printer. For example, BCN3D printers are equipped with automatic table leveling and additionally enable the option of manual table leveling. Alternatively, if your 3D printer does not have auto-leveling, you will have to do it yourself.

2. Distance of the nozzle from the table

There is a certain sweet spot between the table and the nozzle. It's like the Goldilocks rule - not too close, not too far, but just right.

If your 3D print does not adhere to the table, check the distance between the table and the nozzle. If the nozzle is too close to the table, the filament will not be able to flow out and the extruder may damage or drag the previously printed layer. On the other hand, if the nozzle is too far away, the filament will not be placed properly on the table.

You need to experiment to see what works best for the filament you are printing with. Ideally, the nozzle should be close enough to the table so that the filament is slightly pressed onto its surface. This allows the filament to adhere slightly to the table.

3. Print speed

Printing speed can also play an important role in the case of lack of adhesion of the 3D print to the table. Like nozzle spacing, you need to find the sweet spot for print speed, especially when printing the first few layers.

Reducing the printing speed gives the plastic more time to bond to the bed and gain better adhesion. If you print too quickly, the filament may not stick to the bed because the plastic hardens too quickly. Once you have applied the first few layers and are sure about the adhesion of your print to the bed, you can return the print speed to normal settings.

4. Table temperature

The last thing you can check is the table temperature. If you use a heated bed in your prints, make sure you are using the appropriate temperature for the specific filament. Different 3D printing materials require different table temperatures.

It may also be helpful to increase the temperature of the table by a few degrees to help the first layer adhere to the surface. Once you have established good print adhesion, you can then lower the temperature to maintain normal heat.

5. 3D printing adhesives

If you have checked all of your bed and nozzle settings multiple times and are still having trouble adhering to the bed, it's time to reach for some additional tools to get your print to stick to the bed. If you still can't get your 3D print to stick to the table, use glue directly on the table. There are several different options you can consider, including:

• Glue sticks,
• Painting tape,
• Hair spray,
• Or adhesives specifically designed for 3D printing, such as Magigoo.

Using adhesive designed specifically for 3D printing ensures that you can properly remove the adhesive from your print after printing is complete.

This common practice is both quick and economical and can save you a lot of trouble. Just apply a thin layer on the table. Different filaments will adhere to different adhesives, so experiment to see what works best for you.

6.Brim and Raft 3D printing

If you don't want to use adhesives and you still have problems with adhesion of the 3D print to the table, printing brims or rafts may be your best option.

Brim in 3D printing is a layer of filament that surrounds the print and adheres to the first layer of your printed object. It is similar to the brim of a hat. It doesn't sit underneath the part, but simply adds an extra layer around it.

Raft in 3D printing, on the other hand, is a thin layer of filament placed in front of the rest of your print. This creates a flat filament base to build the rest of your print on. Both rafts and brims are removed from the final object after printing is completed.

They are especially useful when creating very small prints or prints that need more support in their first layers.

Summary of the problem with adhesion of 3D printing to the table

Insufficient adhesion of the first layer is a common problem in 3D printing, especially when using PLA and ABS. Fortunately, there are several different solutions available. If you are really having problems with the adhesion of your 3D print to the bed, don't be afraid to try a combination of several of them to get better adhesion of your print.

Source: www.bcn3d.com