Article of paramount importance where you will find how to remove your print without any issues
Warning! Never remove the prints from the glass plate while it is still on the printing platform, this can lead to severe damage on the glass and in the Z-axis mechanism. Always take the glass plate out of the printing platform before removing the parts.
Glass plates provide a great smooth surface to print your models on, however, they require a bit more of maintenance and there are some things to take in account in order to prevent the glass from chipping.
Glass chipping is one of the most common adhesion issues, in this case, it is a sign of over-adhesion. You'll find pieces of glass stuck on the base of the printed part, leaving holes in the glass plate. This happens especially when printing materials with a high contraction rate such as ABS.
To prevent this from happening, the following considerations need to be taken:
1. Before printing, apply a good amount of Magigoo or the adhesive you may prefer. This way a protective layer is created between the glass and the print, and will absorb any tensions that may originate during cool-down.
Tip: If you want to know a bit more on how to set up the glassplate to ensure a good adhesion across the whole printing surface, check out this blog post:
2. After the print has finished, allow the build plate to cool down for 15 minutes. Then remove it from the printer. Spray some water on the build plate, this will soften the Magigoo and ease the extraction process.
Warning! Don't apply water inside of the printer! This can damage the printer and electronics inside of it.
3. When extracting the prints, pay attention to the orientation of the spatula, it should be as flat as possible, and avoid applying leverage to release the parts.
Warning! Removing the part inside of the printer can result in disruption of the calibration.
Gently press the spatula at the sides of the base of the print, the part should pop-off easily. Do not hit on the sides of the part with too much force.
Always remove the parts with a movement that is made from your body. Remember to be cautious of where you are having your second hand while removing the print to avoid hurting yourself.
Tip: Tilt the glass so you have the underside visible to see what parts of the print are already detached.
4. If you find it difficult to release the part, don't rush it, simply dunk the glass plate in water for some minutes. Almost all the different adhesives are water-soluble. Because of this reason, one of the most effective ways to remove some materials from the build plate is to dissolve the glue with some water. You can also spray some water on the glass if you prefer a cleaner process.
Conclusions
Once these points are adopted as a habit, you'll notice that glass won't chip in a long time. Remember that glass plates are considered consumable material and are not covered under warranty, so keeping care of them is key to have great printing results and saving money.
Forum Community
Want to know more about glass plate care? Check out our forum community for more info about this
It's important to keep your printer in good shape to make the most out of it. In this chart, you can find a list of the extruder maintenance procedures and how frequently these should be done.
Maintenance Plan (Epsilon Series)
Maintenance Plan (Sigma Series)
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