Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed

smartroad

Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 06:02AM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 81

I have been having issues getting a decent aluminium plate for my machine. I can find people and compaines selling the things, but they are rarely flat. Does anyone know where I can buy a perfectly flat plate in the UK?

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Dust

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 07:07AM

Admin
Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 7,002

Perfectly flat == machined == expensive

this is why most of us print on glass, its very flat and very cheap.

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lazzymonk

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 09:03AM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 349

I use [www.ebay.co.uk] cheap and flat enough for me. Aluminium is better than glass i think because you can run it under a tap straight from printing without it breaking.

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cdru

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 10:35AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 869

Quote
lazzymonk
Aluminium is better than glass i think because you can run it under a tap straight from printing without it breaking.

It probably won't remain flat for long if you do that often.

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tjb1

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 11:03AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 553

Quote
lazzymonk
I use [www.ebay.co.uk] cheap and flat enough for me. Aluminium is better than glass i think because you can run it under a tap straight from printing without it breaking.

I stick mirror in the freezer after printing...

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A2

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 11:20AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 1,381

Quote
smartroad
where I can buy a perfectly flat plate

Buy ALCOA'x MIC 6, and have it ground flat.
[www.ebay.com]

ALCOA, MIC 6® Aluminum Cast Plate

Using proper aluminum machining methods, tolerances in the thousandths can be consistently maintained. MIC 6® Aluminum Cast Plate is finished to 20 microinches typical on both sides. Thickness tolerances is within +/-.005" from nominal on 1/4"- 4".

Flatness tolerance is maintained within .015" on 1/4"-5/8" thickness and .005" on 3/4"- 4" thickness. Thermal Cycling can be performed up to 800° F under controlled conditions.
[www.alcoa.com]

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bobc

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 12:19PM

Registered: 12 years ago
Posts: 1,236

I tried ebay, and just got bent sheets. YMMV, but seems pot luck to me.

I now use 5mm Ecocast from [www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk]. It's precision machined and dead flat, and costs about £15 for a 300mm square plate cut to size, shipping is a little pricy but very good service.

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lazzymonk

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 19, 2014 12:54PM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 349

@ cdru i do it with every print and i have been using the same plate for over a year now.

nice find bobc ive used them before but never noticed they did them. I might get one soon and compare to the cheap plate i currently use ( its a bit banged up from trying to remove overly stuck prints, but still flat).

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smartroad

Re: Where to buy an aluminium plate for heate bed
February 20, 2014 08:32AM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 81

Thanks all for the replies smiling smiley

Quote
bobc
I tried ebay, and just got bent sheets. YMMV, but seems pot luck to me.

I now use 5mm Ecocast from [www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk]. It's precision machined and dead flat, and costs about £15 for a 300mm square plate cut to size, shipping is a little pricy but very good service.

I may go with that one. Using their quote suggested about £7 for a 200mm sized one (not counting shipping etc). First I will try without and just go glass bed.

Again thanks for all the replies, most helpful grinning smiley

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