Resurfacing the High-Temperature Build Plate

This procedure applies to the AON-M2 High-Temperature Build Plate only. Instructions for maintaining the Kapton tape on the AON-M2 Aluminum Build Plate can also be found in the Maintenance section.

The High-Temperature Build Plate is made from a PEI plate mounted on an aluminum base plate.

Resurfacing the High-Temperature Build Plate is done when:

  • There are small pieces or thin layers of material stuck to the plate;
  • Regardless of the print process parameters, the printed parts are not sticking to the build plate anymore even if the surface has been cleaned properly;
  • The surface has been damaged by artifacts from the part removal process.

Resurfacing the plate is useful to even out the surface or to improve part adhesion by roughening up the surface a bit. A flat and rough (rather than smooth) surface should improve print quality.

Required Tools & Equipment

  • Eye protection
  • Work gloves (leather)
  • Sanding respirator
  • Lint-free cloth
  • Isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle
  • Orbital sander
  • Sanding pads (120, 180, & 220 grit)
  • Straight edge
  • Shop vacuum

The build plate has to be at room temperature to be manipulated. Wait for the machine to cool down before proceeding.

Preparation

  1. Move the gantry and toolheads to the back and sides of the machine. Lower the bed from its home position by 200 mm.

  2. Remove the build plate from the machine. Refer to the build plate installation procedure.

Sand the surface

There is only 1 mm of extra material on the surface. Sanding the PEI surface further could result in issues which are not covered by AON3D. Any substantial damage to the PEI surface will require a new build plate.

  1. Use the orbital sander paired with a coarse sanding pad (120 grit) to remove any material that has built up on the surface.

  2. Check the flatness of the build plate against a straight edge.

  3. Using the finer 180 grit pad, buff out the uneven areas.

  4. Once again, check the flatness of the build plate against a straight edge.

  5. Lightly buff with the 220 grit sanding pad to achieve a flat surface. Stop sanding if you have already removed 1 mm of material from the original build plate.

  6. Clean the dust from around the edges of the plate and the bolts using a vacuum. Spray isopropyl alcohol on the plate and wipe it down with a clean, lint-free cloth to clean the surface.

Reinstall the build plate

Reinstall the build plate in the machine following the build plate installation procedure.

Probing the build surface at thermal equilibrium and adjusting the offsets will be necessary before starting a print.

Last modified: April 28, 2020