Silicone Heat Bed Mount

thingiverse

These brackets enable you to use an industrial-grade silicone heating pad to heat up your 3D printer's bed. The PCB heating element in most 3D printers is a crucial part that holds the glass and provides structural support to the assembly. Since flexible silicone heater pads are prone to deformation, extra structural elements are necessary. These mounts fit snugly under each corner of the bed, providing additional support for the heating pad and glass. The entire assembly is secured with a strong binder clip. To maintain efficient heat transfer, install fiberglass insulation underneath the heating pad and press it firmly against the glass. For this task, I utilized pipe wrap insulation from my local hardware store, securing the strips together using Kapton tape. To fine-tune temperature readings, you can insert a thermistor between the flexible heater pad and the glass if your pad doesn't come equipped with one. Silicone heating pads can produce extreme temperatures (up to 300°F) very rapidly if misconfigured, making it crucial to double-check your thermistor settings. Printer Settings: - Printer: MakerFarm Prusa i3v - Rafts: Doesn't matter - Supports: Doesn't matter - Resolution: .2mm - Infill: 40% Notes: I used ABS plastic for printing these brackets. Make sure you choose a plastic type that can withstand the bed temperatures you intend to achieve. Post-Installation Steps: To get started, you'll need four mounts - one for each corner of your heated bed. First, use an M3 tap to create holes in the mounts Install one mount in each corner of the bed using an M3 screw. Add a layer of insulation. Lay the silicone heater pad on top of the mounts and insulation. Place a thermistor on top of the heater pad if desired (optional). Carefully place the glass on top of the pad. Finally, secure everything together with strong binder clips.