Remove 3D print from build plate

3D printers are one of the best innovations of the recent past. These are used to make 3D products from a soft file. The importance and necessity of 3D printers cannot be undermined in today’s era, but using these printers is not a simple task.

They need to be handled with utmost care; printers need to be cleaned regularly, and once you are done creating a 3D print like print a 3D helmet, it should also be removed carefully so the product does not come off as damaged.

If you are new at using 3D printers and are not aware of all their intricacies, then keep reading this article because we are going to talk about how you can remove your 3D print from the printer. There are different methods used for this purpose, and these depend on the print and in what manner it has adhered to the build plate.

First Let it Cool Down 

One of the most common and foremost practices is to wait for your printer to cool down once you are done creating a 3D print. If you have not used the adhesive and directly created the print on the glass plate, and if the build plate was also not held too tightly, then print can be easily removed once you let it cool.

Once you are done printing the product, let the build plate and the 3D printer come back to room temperature. When the product material comes back to room temperature or cools down, it shrinks in size, which makes it easy to remove it conveniently. So first let 3D printer adapt to the room temperature.

Use a Spatula 

If you allowed your print and the build plate to cool down and still could not remove the print, then here is another technique you should use. Take a spatula, place it under the print and apply a small amount of force so you can easily remove the print without breaking or damaging it.

Spatula has often proved to be helpful when the cooling method failed to work. But you should keep in mind to take the glass plate out of the printer so no damage is caused to it during the removal process.

Use Water 

If both the cooling down method and spatula do not work, then there is a third method. You can also detach the model by applying some water. Be very cautious while doing this so you do not hurt your hand.

Once the plate cools down, the print will shrink and contract in size. Once cool, the print will easily pop off from the plate.

If you used glue on the glass plate of the printer, then run lukewarm water over the side of the glass plate that has print on it. This lukewarm water will remove the glue from underneath the print.

Once this glue is dissolved, it becomes much easier to remove 3D print. In case you used PVA instead of the glue, then you should immerse the glass plate with print on it in the water and the PVA will be dissolved easily. This method aids the removal of print from the glass plate.

Use Force 

Another method you can use to remove your 3D print from the build plate is by using brute force. For this method, you only have to use your hands, no additional tools are required. Hold the build plate with one hand, and push or pull the print with the other hand from the surface of the build plate.

Keep in mind that this can be quite a risky process as the sudden release of your hand from the printer bed could cause your hand to slam into something heavy and cause injury. So be very careful while using this technique to remove the print from the build plate.

Another thing you must keep in mind is that you can use this method only when your 3D print is very strong. If the print has detailed prints and small features, then applying this method could damage the print. So if your printer does not have any strong or smooth surface to hold onto, then avoid using this method.

Replace the Build Platform 

If none of the above-mentioned techniques are working for you, then you may want to consider switching your build plate. You can switch your current build plate with a flexible build plate if removing the print requires too much effort every time.

Flexible build plates are convenient because these can be bent easily. This quality allows the users to easily remove their 3D prints from the build plate once the print has dried up and cooled down.

Several options of flexible build plates are available in the market today. You can walk into any nearby accessory store and choose a flexible build plate for yourself.

However, there are certain things you must keep in mind while purchasing a flexible build plate for your 3D printer. For instance, its dimensions are correct and it is compatible with your 3D printer. Because you would not want to have a thicker plate that blocks the inductive sensor of your 3D printer.

In case you cannot get a flexible build plate, then you should consider switching from a glass plate to a build plate of different material, either metal or some other flexible material as it can also have many benefits. For instance, you can get a flexible bed with a smooth or textured surface, which allows you to try different adhesive finishes.

Once you have chosen a build plate for your printer, set the Z offset, level the bed, and you are ready to start printing 3D objects. When you finish the printing, remove the print bed or plate from the printer and gently bend it so the dried print can easily pop off. A flexible build plate can be easily bent in multiple dimensions.

Enable a Raft

 You can also try enabling a raft in the 3D slicer while creating a 3D print. Although rafts are used to improve the bad adhesion, these are also a set of buffer layers present between your print and the build plate of the printer. Moreover, you do not have to worry about the raft getting damaged because you will likely dispose of it off.

Other than making it easier to remove the prints, rafts are also known for reducing the chance of your print being warped, so it’s a very beneficial feature. One drawback of rafts, however, is the increase in printing time and filament consumption.

Most 3D slicers have raft settings that can be adjusted such as the number of layers. Once you have printed your article, you can easily remove your part in two ways. Either remove the part from the raft first or remove the build plate first.

It is, however, more convenient and sensible to remove the raft from the build plate first, and you can do this by any method as long as you are only touching the raft.

Bring a Change in the Build Platform

Here is another easy method that will help you remove the print from the build plate easily. If you add a buffer layer or another surface to the build plate, this will be helpful in the removal of print. This method is also similar to using raft but it includes the use of non-printable buffer layers such as sheets, glue, or tape, between the build plate and the print.

FAQs:

How do you get a 3D print plate off resin? 

One of the easiest ways to get your resin prints off the build plate is to use a good metal scraper. Gently wiggle and push the edges of the resin print once it has dried and cooled down. As you will push further through the print with the help of a metal scraper, it will gradually weaken the adhesion of the print with the build plate and eventually come off it.

Should I remove the filament after printing? 

Some filaments of 3D printers are required to be stored away from the moisture because they can easily absorb moisture. Moisture damages the quality of filament and as a result, the prints are not printed well because the high heat that passes through the filament gets poor flow due to moisture in the filament.

Sometimes the filaments can also become brittle so it is better not to leave them in the printer.

How do you remove the PLA raft?

You can easily remove the extra filament with the help of a needle nose plier 3.2k. We also recommend that you grab some sandpaper and smooth the rough surface of support removal spots.