I have decided that the only way to prevent warping on my prints is to get a heated bed.
The included 12V 150W power supply is not be powerful enough to heat a 200x200mm bed to 100°C for ABS, and I do not want a large external supply (this would ruin the aesthetics of the machine and make it less portable).
I would like to use an aluminium sheet as the print bed as this will evenly distribute the heat, and require less energy to heat than glass.
I would like to use a silicone rubber heater instead of a PCB heater for various reasons. These generally come in 12v or 24v models.
Can anyone suggest a power supply - as well as where to get one - to replace the existing one that might be suitable? Preferably one with 24v output for the bed and 12v output for the rest of the printer.
As the temperature is regulated, you can use a 15V power supply with a 12V heated bed. The power needed depends on the resistance of the circuit. So you have to know it to compute the required power for your PSU.
[quote=“raby”]As the temperature is regulated, you can use a 15V power supply with a 12V heated bed. The power needed depends on the resistance of the circuit. So you have to know it to compute the required power for your PSU.
Reichelt.de has a wide range of power supplies.[/quote]
The heated mats tend to be quoted in terms of voltage and power, so that should be fine. I want to power the rest of the printer from the same power supply, so would I be able to use a 15v supply for that too?
Is there a way to view that site in English?
[quote=“frank.von.thienen”]I bought the 15V 500w PSU.
Powering the MU and a heat bed MK3.
There is some power left for supplying
additional sources like LEDs etc.[/quote]
So the Arduino board can run on 15V even though it is a 12V board? Is that not going to damage the Arduino Board?
It’s slightly shorter but wider than the original PSU so I needed to drill new mounting holes for it. That actually worked out quite well because the M3 threaded holes on the original one stripped almost immediately which left the PSU rather loose. This one has M4 mounting holes which seem a bit more robust.
I am using a MK3 heat bed from reprap.me (in Copenhagen) with a cork insulator.
Also I put some 2mm distances, the thickness of the cork, to ensure the MK3 stays flat and is not bent down at the attachment points.
I use a separate PS for the heat but cant remember right now the power, I will check later. Actually it fits under the printer “floor” together with the original PS.
I found and printed two holders for the new PS at Thingiverse.
Will take a picture of the whole when I get home today.
Here’s the picture as promised.
As you can see there is plenty of space for an extra PS.
Here are the brackets holding the PS thingiverse.com/thing:846157 Please note that you have to shorten them a few mm’s in height or the printer will stand on them.
Looks nice, I’m also going to add a heat-bed but still doubting about replacing or adding a psu.
Kind regards
JeAfKe[/quote]
You can get mains voltage ones so I was thinking of just getting one of those and a solid state relay. It would lower the cost.
[quote=“DanielDC88”][quote=“jeafke”]That poor Z stepper…
Looks nice, I’m also going to add a heat-bed but still doubting about replacing or adding a psu.
Kind regards
JeAfKe[/quote]
You can get mains voltage ones so I was thinking of just getting one of those and a solid state relay. It would lower the cost.[/quote]
The motors are quite sturdy, I think it can cope.
If not I have bought a few spares…
Having 230V inside the printing area seem risky to me. I would not go that way. On the other hand I have not seen it. Do you have a link ?
I asked about mains voltage ones on Reddit and it seems like a good idea for several reasons. Many already have them and I think this is the way I will go. You would need a custom heat bed, but you would not need an expensive, heavy, inefficient power supply to operate it. All you would need is a solid-state relay and the bed heater itself.
I wouldn’t go for a mains voltage heater.
Way too dangerous with all the moving parts around.
And i think with a solid state relay and a custom heater you wll be at higher cost than a sufficient 24V supply either.
I wouldn’t go for a mains voltage heater.
Way too dangerous with all the moving parts around.
And i think with a solid state relay and a custom heater you will be at higher cost than a sufficient 24V supply either.[/quote]
I do not agree with your safety concerns. It would be no more dangerous than a hairdryer or a toaster if you apply common sense to it. Custom ones don’t cost too much from places like Keenovo, and a relay is about €5.
Okay, you might be right with the pricing, if you get “cheap” parts.
But i think you should consider that you will need special wiring for the mains part.
Normal equipment wiring (hairdryer cord or such) will not withstand the constant movements.
Thus it would lead to faulty insulation over time. No good idea …
And it would have to be very carefully routed too. (cable chain for instance)
