Garden Railway Forum

I was gifted an Ender 3 Neo by my lovely family last xmas and have enjoyed starting in this fascinating field.
However, I have what is probably a complete rookie question for the collective mind here, if I may.
In spite of my best efforts in attempting to find out from the internet, or the makers (not very helpful website) I cannot discover why the plastic film on the print bed now has bubbles appearing on it. Clearly these effect the prints and appears to be getting worse!
Am I missing the point in that the film should have been removed, or are there other issues afoot that I know nothing about. The film appears to be held in place by clips around the edge of the bed so I, maybe, assumed it was meant to be there.

All assistance very much appreciated.

Kind regards

Hi Dave. Welcome to the forum.
I've not got an Ender myself, but it does sound as if the film is there for protection during transit and should have been removed.
Neither of my two machines came with such a film - though a replacement glass bed which I bought subsequently did.

Rik

Thank you for that Rik.
I am currently prinking the GVT mineral wagon and will try the next part without the film.

Regards

Hi Dave,
Like Rik, I don't have an Ender, but I do have a Creality CR20Pro, which is very similar. I don't actually recall a plastic film on the bed when I got it 12 months ago, but it may well have had it. I'm sure it needs to be removed though.
Do you have a magnetic bed or a glass one? My CR20 Pro came with a magnetic bed which I soon swapped to a glass one and have never regretted that move.

Well, removing the film from the bed (I am not sure what it is made of but it appears to be glass of some kind) made quite a difference in so far as things seem (so far) to stick better to it plus I don't have the bubbles on the inside/underside of the prints.
Now all I need to do is work out how best to clean the print surface properly.

Thanks for your help gents.

Regards

Dave Cooper wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:20 pm
Now all I need to do is work out how best to clean the print surface properly.

Assuming that yours is glass, I tend to use IPA routinely from time to time, just to collect dust etc that has accumulated, and Acetone if it has any kind of adhered build up. However, if you let the glass cool down completely, you should find that the print just pops off by itself.

Thanks for the reply.
Hang on, did you mean IPA, as in beer?
Acetone I have and will try that first at least.

Regards

Dave

Isopropyl Alcohol rather than Indian Pale Ale. Both have their uses but it’s best not to mix them up.

SimonWood wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:31 pm Isopropyl Alcohol rather than Indian Pale Ale. Both have their uses but it’s best not to mix them up.

My Ender 3V2 came with a clear film over the bed which I removed before starting.

I have Isopropal Alcohol ins a small spray bottle (it came with glasses cleaner in it) and spray the bed every time before I start a print.

If you do not already have auto bed leveling might I suggest a BL Touch as a worthwhile investment to the Ender it make life so much easier.

Just don’t remember if there was any on my AD3.

Glad it’s sorted now, you will get a lot of pleasure and some disappointments with your projects. Just enjoy it and try not to get bogged down with any problems. Members will always have a solution I’m sure.

Thank you all for your replies and welcomes to this novice.
I will order up some IPA (and maybe some beer too, why not) and give that a go.
I have an autoleveling gadget built into my machine btw, and very clever it is too haha.

Many thanks indeed.
Dave