So, from my testing while PEI is a fantastic build surface for 3D Printing. It’s longevity is rather lacking. I then watched a video from Makers Muse about using G10 for my print bed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0PK4oXbJT8
Problem was (1) how to find G10 in Canada. The answer was look for it under it’s industrial marketing name Garolite, which I was able to find. (2) How to make the bottom surface Matte and not ultra glossy. The answer was sanding it down, which had the added benefit of making parts stick better. (3) Sticking it to the print beds.
(3) is where I had a lot of problems. Since my only solution was to use paperclips. It worked on the mark 4 with a loss of 8mm around the print bed edge. However on the Mini it didn’t work. 1) The original sheet was too thick, and 2) I needed the original Print Bed underneath for the bed leveling sensor to work.
However today I found my solution. Ripping off the PEI Sheet. It’s just adheared with adhesive which once the PEI sheet is removed from, my Garolite sheet can be placed down on top of the original adhesive.
The results so far are fantastic. Garolite doesn’t stick to PLA as good as PEI is when new and cleaned. However Garolite sheets lasts a heck of a lot longer and can be cleaned with heavy chemicals like Acetone without issues.
My Mini’s bed isn’t as levels as I thought it was. However it’s nothing a bit of a disc sander can’t fix :)
Spool3D in Calgary sells sheets of FR4 (the flame resistant version of G10) that are bonded to spring steel sheets. I use with a few drops of the nano polymer adhesive they sell but would probably be fine without (A few drops in IPA seems to do the trick for ABS, lets me spread it extremely thin). I used Buildtak for a while and their surfaces are great, but this was a lot cheaper and extremely resistant, plus I like the surface finish it gives (Also I can source domestically, partly the reason I switched)