Hello folks,
I want to build my first 3D printer and have a few questions:
I want it to have a heated bed and was wondering can directly print on the bed or do I need a thin sheet of glass.
Also I decided to pick ramps 1.4 control board but no idea how to wire it. Can any one recommend any tutorials for wiring
Many thanks
Hi,
I built my own printer in March from an Original Prusa kit (Prusa3d.com). The heatbed you link looks like my original one, which needed a hardened glass plate and glue or tape to print (for adhesion). I recently upgraded to the Prusa Mk2 which has a larger heatbed and does not need glass or glue anymore. Check the kit to see which one is used, I cannot find a make immediately.
I can recommend the kit, still a lot of work but good manuals and support in the forums…
No idea on RAMPS.
Hi,
The heater you reference is a standard Prusa style MK2B PCB heater which can be operated at 12V or 24V, depending on how you wire it. Do NOT print directly on the PCB. You can use glass or aluminum for the build bed. Borosilicate glass is reputedly the best although plain old 3mm window glass works just as well for PLA and ABS. Glass is inherently flat and gives the best finish. It is also easier to clean than aluminum. Also a 200mm square of window glass is far cheaper than the borosilicate - about 1/10 the cost. Buy several - they will break or chip.
Its best to clamp the heater to the glass (or visa versa). It is also advisable to insulate the underside of the heater as this will help it heat faster and lose less energy during your print.
As for the Ramps board, check the RepRap wiki for connector info. I prefer the Rambo Mini board using a 24V power supply.
Best of luck.
