Maintaining your PEI print surface
PEI Print Surface: Maintenance
Your LulzBot 3D printer is equipped with a PEI print surface. This extremely handy material makes your life easier because you don't have to worry about hair spray and glues to get good bed adhesion with standard materials like PLA and ABS.
The PEI film is adhered to the glass bedplate with a semi-permanent adhesive in order to maximize the lifetime of the PEI print surface. As the interface between the printer and the printed object, the print surface sees the most abuse of any part on your 3D printer and will likely need to be replaced at some point during the life of the printer. Replacement heat beds kits and replacement PEI sheets are available through in our Lulzbot accessories page.
When cleaned and heated to the recommended temperatures, your print sticks well without the need for solvents or glues for most materials, the first time and release from the print surface once cooled to the recommended filament-specific object removal temperature. Get the longest life out of your PEI print surface by performing the periodic maintenance listed below.
Clean your PEI print surface
When switching from printing with Nylon, NinjaFlex, SemiFlex, PET, Polycarbonate, and copolyesters to ABS/PLA
Wipe off the recommended PVA-based white school glue stick bed treatment when you resume printing with ABS- or PLA-based filament. This will result in an even first layer, which will then ensure proper 3D printed object adhesion. Use a paper towel moistened with water to soften and remove any PVA glue build up.
Sand the PEI print surface
Improve printed part adhesion, remove scratches, and small gouges from the PEI print surface
Use fine-grit sand paper (1500+ grit) to gently remove light scratches and minor gouges from the PEI film. This can be done several times before the PEI print surface will need to be purchased and replaced.
Purchase new PEI film and adhesive
Remove and replace the PEI print surface
Your PEI print surface can be considered worn when you can no longer restore the surface through sanding and cleaning.
More information:
Replacement PEI print surface for the LulzBot Mini 3D printer
Replacement PEI print surface for the LulzBot TAZ 3D printer
