Who needs HEAT?! ABS no heat bed

thingiverse

See videos below! I'm testing different bed coverings that will essentially eliminate the need for heated beds. I've found a solution and I want to support this revolution. Many makers out there don't have heated beds, probably more without heat than with. My solution is simple and practical. Use it or not - I'm sure there will always be situations where heated beds are the better choice, but this is for all you makers without heat. After taking on the challenge, I found a new method that assists in printing with ABS plastic when a heated bed isn't an option. I used PVC Vinyl adhesive back sheet, basically decal vinyl. This is what I bought from Amazon for my vinyl cutter: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00345V7CI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 I use a glass surface on my Rostock Max so I stuck a piece to that for testing. I cleaned the glass with alcohol before applying and also cleaned the top of the decal sticker after placing for maximum adhesion. Then I started testing. Here's what I've seen: The vinyl will not lift from the glass - it will stay down the whole time. ABS sticks extremely well to the Vinyl. I printed several files and have minimal, if any, pull on the parts. When I did see pull on sharp or small surface area pieces, I programmed a 5mm Raft with a .1 gap and it eliminated any pulling on those. The heat from printing actually strengthens the bond to the glass and the bond between the part and laminate as well. There wasn't a file I couldn't get to print to my satisfaction on the vinyl. Removing the part causes the most distortion. I did find that my method would sometimes bend the parts during removal. I want to find a more suitable method for removal. Obviously, the community will test this further and really see how far this method will go. I'm simply sharing my results and I hope this helps you in your printing projects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KId_aF9Ptek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwKwmVRHUk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9KbloYEGrQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TteCOY7XUPQ Print Settings: Printer Brand: SeeMeCNC Printer: Rostock MAX Rafts: Yes Supports: No Resolution: .2mm Infill: 30% Notes: If experiencing pull on corners of part, run with a 5mm Raft at .1 gap Post-Printing: I want to show how well the part sticks to the build surface. Also, I want to show removing part.