Using a mirror as toolplate
-
Hi,
Do you think it is possible to use a mirror as toolplate, with a silicone pad stick on the bottom, and a magnetic sheet stick on the top, to make a removable bed?
I guess it is possible to glue something in the corners of the mirror to mount it on the bed structure...
-
@fma While I use a MIC-6 aluminum tooling plate as my heat spreader / heated bed I do use mirrors that I purchased from Home Depot as my "glass" and affix PEI/Printbite/gluestick to them as required. They seem to be reasonably flat and have been working out great for me. One negative thing I will say is that the mirror backing causes significant heat drop when compared to standard glass.
I would be concerned about using a mirror without a heat spreader primarily due to potential warping / breakage if the glass didn't heat evenly.
-M
-
Have you heard of Richard Horne AKA RichRap? https://richrap.blogspot.co.uk/. A great name in te Reprap world. He's been an advocate of using mirror glass for many years.
-
Yes you can use mirror, but ordinary float glass is usually just as good.
-
Ok, I'll give it a try. I have some optical mirror, very very flat, 4mm; I think it will be a good candidate.
PS: BTW, I'm using mirrors as build plate for years, but never eared to use them as main structure, instead of aluminium. That's why I asked.
-
@fma I wouldn't do that. It's very important to use a heat spreader to prevent local hot spots.
-
Wires on the silicone pad are 5mm from each other, which is not bad. I will put the pad on the tin side; it may help a bit...
Let's try ;o)
-
@Ian, I will have a magnetic sheet stick on the top, and a metal sheet as removable plate; so I don't think there will have any hotspot on the print surface...
-
I'm using a 6mm thick glass tabletop, with the heater stuck directly on the bottom. No aluminum layer at all. Per IR thermometer, very even. Also heats much more quickly than I would have thought. Takes a while to cool...
-
How is you glass maintained on the frame?
I made a quick test using silicone-based glue to stick it on MDF, and it seems to work great (I have 10mm free arround the silicone pad). Silicone glue can handle up to 200°C.
