Cheap DIY 3KU Removable Flexible Print Bed mod

thingiverse

Prusa MK3 inspired removable flexible build plate for 3ku Delta v1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxGM_-663uE This is one of the best upgrades Ive ever done to this printer. Removing prints can be such a pain in the butt. On my Taz6, Ive actually cut my self removing prints that stuck to the PEI sheet to well. Even on the 3ku it's hard to remove stuck prints because the towers get in the way of your arms and removal tools. Not to mention the removal tools can even damage your print bed surface and the model being printed. No more. Prints come off print bed with ease, and without tool marks. And no cut hands. This is a DIY project so some trade off's where made. Namely the type of metal sheet used. Prusa is using spring steel. The buildtak flexplate system is also using spring steel, because it remembers its shape after flexing alot better then most metals. But I couldn't source it locally in larger sizes. Everything was in 6in wide x 12in or 24in. And it would have been more expensive. So the stuff home depots sells is what was recommended. The hardest part of this whole thing is cutting the metal sheet. I gave my work buddy the template linked below. He clamped it between two pieces of wood, before cutting it. That way it wouldn't curl up. He used a jig saw to cut the sheet. The screw holes came out rough and I needed to file them more open. Also I had to file the edges of metal all around the circumference of plate. Make sure the screw cut outs line up with screws of the aluminum plate. More filing may have to be done to enlarge the cutouts. You want the screw cutouts to be just as big as they need to be, not bigger. File down any remaining rough edges. The screw cutouts actually help the magnets from stopping any lateral movement of the bed plate. After you have a fitting sheet plate, your golden. Cut the silicone double sided tape into the shapes of magnets. Place the magnets with silicone tape evenly spaced out around the heat pad. One touch leveling with nozzle as probe still works because the plate is also metal just like the aluminum plate. So redo your auto calibration and bed leveling just like previously. Then apply your choice of surface and print. The magnets are very strong anyway, just an added security. Ended up using 7 magnets. I dont know what effect adding a magnet to the center of heat pad will have, so I just placed magnets around the heat pad. I didn't have to double the magnets for more pulling force, however I did add more magnets then shown in pic because with just 4 magnets, there were places the plate wasnt flush with heat bed. I still have to test if repeated plate removals will effect bed leveling. I wonder if over time plate will become unlevel from removals and repeated bending, it not being spring steel after all. I'll report back. Credit to Improper Engineering for a DIY version of Prusa's MK3 bed https://youtu.be/-HI0PLQ3ThU Materials: Build Surface Blue tape, BuildTak, Lokbuild, PEI Magnets http://appliedmagnets.com/bar-magnets-2-in-x-1-2-in-x-1-8-in-high-temp-n42sh-neodymium-magnets-p-608.html 3M Double Sided Silicone Tape http://a.co/4bNJBU8 Sheet Metal https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-12-in-x-24-in-26-Gauge-Zinc-Plated-Sheet-Metal-801537/204225706 2 Pieces of wood larger then template, stops metal sheet from curling while cutting My Bed template for metal sheet - need a bigger 3d printer then 3ku or give stl directly to metal cutter.