Hi all! I am a 53 yr. old design engineer and have been using a Makerbot 2 for a few years. I am new to building my own printer but have decided to put together a Delta from scratch. I am working on designing the print bed and from reading posts concerning print bed heating it seems clear that to prevent curling I need to use a heated bed. What I don't quite get is why it seems that most printers have a fan blowing on the part as it is being extruded to cool it. It seems counterintuitive to heat the bed and then blow on the part to chill it. Anyone care to help me understand this? I would really appreciate a little help with this concept. :-) Kory https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,573986#msg-573986 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:45:39 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,575653#msg-575653 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,575653#msg-575653 www.thingiverse.com]

With ABS it isn't as important to have a parts fan, but print very slowly when printing small layers and if you use a fan make sure its blowing from several, ideally opposite directions at the same time, or a circular fan cowl to prevent the part from bending toward the fan as it cools.]]> DjDemonD General Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:12:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,574315#msg-574315 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,574315#msg-574315 The heatbed is essential for ABS, to maintain the piece warm and avoid warping. And for ABS, you must not use the fan. The best is to have your printer in an enclosure.]]> kimented_ General Fri, 23 Oct 2015 03:50:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,574014#msg-574014 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,574014#msg-574014
KK]]> kkrofft General Thu, 22 Oct 2015 11:45:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,574003#msg-574003 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,574003#msg-574003
Also, PLA usually has a heatbed temp of around 50C - 60C, which the bed heater will have no problem maintaining, even with a fan blowing. ABS needs a heatbed temp of around 100C that is harder to maintain, but rarely needs a print cooling fan so the issue doesn't arise.]]> David J General Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:55:57 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,573999#msg-573999 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,573999#msg-573999 3DS-QUAD General Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:35:50 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,573986#msg-573986 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,573986,573986#msg-573986 I am a 53 yr. old design engineer and have been using a Makerbot 2 for a few years. I am new to building my own printer but have decided
to put together a Delta from scratch. I am working on designing the print bed and from reading posts concerning print bed heating it seems
clear that to prevent curling I need to use a heated bed. What I don't quite get is why it seems that most printers have a fan blowing on the
part as it is being extruded to cool it. It seems counterintuitive to heat the bed and then blow on the part to chill it.
Anyone care to help me understand this?

I would really appreciate a little help with this concept. :-)

Kory]]> kkrofft General Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:12:59 -0400