If you’re facing a problem that your filament, PETG, is not sticking to the bed, then this article is probably for you!
PETG, even though one of the top choices as a filament for a lot of people, has this one little con, it does not always stick to the bed. There can be a few different causes of this happening, which will be mentioned below, along with their solutions.
So, scroll through the article to learn how to solve the “PETG not sticking to bed” problem.
Why Is PETG Not Sticking to Bed?
Here are a few reasons why PETG is not sticking to the bed,
- Your print bed might not be leveled.
- The print bed might not be wrapped.
- The print bed might not be clean.
- The filament has moisture in it.
- The temperature is too low than required.
- The printing speed is higher than required.
- There is more distance (extra) between the nozzle and the print bed.
- The cooling fan is at its full capacity.
- The print model lacks brims and rafts.
How To Make PETG Stick To The Bed?
Here’s how you can make PETG stick to the bed,
Cleaning the bed surface
Most of the time, the reason for this problem is a lack of cleaning caused by dirt, debris, and leftover residue from the print models. Now to clean the bed surface, you can use an IPA and wipe the surface. You can use 99% IPA, which will evaporate soon, and you can wipe out the bed surface. This method is easy, quick, as well as very effective.
Adjusting Z-Offset
The problem can also be solved by adjusting the height of the 3D printer. Since, at times the filaments require a higher height of the nozzle, the lack of setting can be a problem.
Increasing PETG printing temperature
Increasing the temperature help; you can increase it while the process is happening, or you can also pre-heat the printer for better adhesion.
Adding brims and rafts
Adding brims and rafts, especially rafts, add a large surface of extruded material around the model, which helps in sticking the model to the bed.
Also read: Three simple ways to fix 3D printer extrusion problem
Using a PETG bed adhesion
Another way is to use a few tools for PETG bed adhesion. Like, the classic glue stick, even though it is less advised, can be used to solve the problem. Another one is Magigoo; it is a 3D printing adhesive that is quite easy to use and pretty effective and clean since it has liquid consistency it does not leave clumps.
Decreasing the print speed
Sometimes the default value of print speed is high, so when it comes to PETG, it is advised that it is kept low, around 20mm/s, because speeding wouldn’t be helpful if the work itself isn’t good.
Decreasing the PETG fan speed or turning it off
It is suggested that the cooling fans be turned off only, but even if you feel like you need it on, you can start from low for the first few layers and then increase it.
Leveling the print bed
Apart from making PETG stick to the bed, leveling the print bed can also help with better quality, strength, stability, and integrity of the 3D model. Different printers have different leveling; 3D printers with auto bed leveling don’t have any problem to worry about, but for the manual, you can adopt the paper method or “live leveling.”
The filament should be dry
PETG tends to absorb moisture leading to a lack of adhesion. To dry out the filament, you can use different methods, like a specialized filament dryer or an oven for its dehydration. Or the basic one is just storing it in an airtight bag, so the chances of the filament getting moist are as low as possible.
Double-check printing settings
Sometimes you end up missing a few aspects. So, just double-checking the printing settings helps a lot. Make sure all the factors, like the cooling fan’s power, printing speed, feed rate, z-offset, and so on. Thus, you have the right measurements and levels.
Changing print bed surface
If these methods are not working well, then there are high chances you need to get your print bed surface changed. This would probably make all your problems right.
Conclusion
Now that you are well aware of why this problem “PETG not sticking to bed” occurs and how you can fix it, too, this knowledge will help you out in printing better material.
So, do not worry. There are high chances that PETG will stop sticking to the bed after you apply these methods, but in case it doesn’t, it is advisable to consult an expert and get the issue resolved as soon as possible.
Hope this article helped in not just resolving your issue but also adding to your pre-existing knowledge about PETG.
