How to choose a suitable printing pad

The printing pad as a building block of a 3D printer

No 3D printer can do without a print bed. Whether the print will turn out to your liking can be influenced by the appropriate selection of the printing mat, because it is on this mat that the first layer of the print is printed.

It is necessary that the first layer of the filament adheres to the substrate without any problem, that the print does not move during printing, and that the printing of other layers can follow.

In order for the printing to take place without complications, it is appropriate to focus on the type of filament you are currently using. Because each filament has different properties, it can also behave a little differently during printing. The fact that you can print perfectly on some pads with ABS filament does not mean that it will go so smoothly with PLA filament.  

There are various types of printing pads and accessories that will improve adhesion. And last but not least, depending on the type of printing pad, there are also different options for its installation. 

When choosing a mat, you need to focus not only on the material from which it is made, but also on its other properties. For example, if it is flexible, how durable it is or if it is magnetic. All these aspects can affect the final appearance of the print. 

Types of printing pads or how to choose the right one for you

Glass mat

The glass substrate is used quite often and is compatible with a large number of filament types (from PLA to filaments made of nylon material). Of course, the coaster isn't made from just any glass you might find around your home. It is a tempered glass that is temperature resistant. Glass mats are divided into two types: smooth and textured. The advantage of a smooth pad is that it ensures a smooth bottom layer of the print. But with textured, you might be excited about the easier removal of prints after the print is finished and the pad has cooled, thanks to the rougher surface.  

You can use Kapton tape to promote adhesion (we'll talk more about it in the Helpers section ). The glass mat is not magnetic, so you will need to use staples or clips to secure it . Its low price and good adhesion make it a frequent choice when choosing a printing pad.

Basic features: low price, compatible with most types of filament (perfectly suitable for PLA), after cooling, the prints "bounce" off the mat, in the case of the smooth version, it creates smooth bottom layers for the prints

Suitable for filaments : PLA, ABS, PET-G, TPU, nylon

Steel printing pad with a plate with PEI foil

Steel spring pad and PEI film are becoming more and more popular variant of printing pad recently. The pad is made of spring steel that is magnetic, so you don't need any accessories to install it - just remove it and then put it back in place as needed. The main advantage of the spring pad is its flexibility. After removing it, you can bend it to make it easier to remove the prints. This makes spring steel perfectly suited for the production of a mat, but it still has one drawback - it does not have good adhesive properties. That's why PEI foil , which has a thin layer of polyetherimide , is coming into its own at the moment(the material known by the abbreviation PEI). This foil can boast of good adhesion, so it is usually not even necessary to use glues or other helpers. The foil fits perfectly with PLA filament, PET-G and other filaments with similar properties. 

Thanks to the PEI foil, the bottom layer is smooth and easily adheres to the substrate, but if the print adheres to the substrate too much, its removal could sometimes be a pain. With frequent use, PEI film wears out and will need to be replaced.

Basic features: the magnetic pad ensures easy handling, the lower layers of the prints are smooth and shiny, the prints adhere perfectly to the PEI foil 

Suitable for filaments : PLA, ABS, PET-G, TPU, nylon

Steel printing pad with textured surface

This is the same steel spring pad that we wrote about above, but with one difference - in contrast to the smooth PEI foil, the surface is equipped with a PEI foil with a rough textured or grainy pattern . This type of surface has one major advantage – prints are easily removed from the mat after cooling. Its textured surface is to blame, as prints adhere to a smaller, smooth surface of the mat, making their removal no problem.

Another advantage is the simpler setting of the Z axis and the high scratch resistance of the material. The disadvantage is that compared to other mats, its acquisition costs are slightly higher.

Basic features: magnetic base ensures easy handling, bottom layers of prints are textured, great adhesion to most materials, more room for Z-axis adjustment  

Suitable for filaments : PLA, ABS, PET-G, TPU, nylon

Polypropylene mat/ foil

Another option is a polypropylene mat , which you can also find under the abbreviation PP . This is a plastic pad that is semi-flexible, so you can bend it a bit when removing prints. Since the mat is made of plastic that bonds well to other plastic materials, it will get along well with filaments such as PLA, ABS, PET-G or even PP filament. Polypropylene mats have one unpleasant feature – they scratch easily, which can affect the quality of the lower part of the print. Quite often, due to repeated heating and cooling (which plastic material generally does not tolerate very well), the mat is deformed. In this case, there is nothing left but to replace the pad with a new one.

Polypropylene printing mat is relatively temperature resistant and not expensive at all. Its other variant is Polypropylene foil , which is often only for one use. But considering that it has a low purchase price, you won't regret its short life so much.  

Basic properties: resistant to high temperatures, partially flexible, more likely to scratch or otherwise damage the pad compared to other materials, low purchase price

Suitable for filaments : PLA, ABS, PET-G, PC, TPU, nylon, polypropylene

Magnetic mat

The magnetic mat is an interesting variant and is guaranteed to find its supporters. The pad is divided into two parts – the first self-adhesive part is firmly stuck to the heatbed and the second flexible part is removable. That's the magic of this pad, because you can easily remove and bend this part after printing. This makes the printouts easy to remove. And the unpopular scraping is eliminated.

The magnetic mat gets along best with PLA filaments, where there is no need for too much temperature during printing. On the contrary, with ABS and PET-G filaments, which have a higher melting point, the first layer may adhere too much and subsequently there may be problems with removing prints. Over time, with intensive use, the pad may lose its magnetic properties and will need to be replaced. Another variant is a magnetic self-adhesive film .

Basic properties: magnetic, flexible, prints can be easily removed

Suitable for filaments: PLA

Self-adhesive printing pad /BuildTak

It is a durable plastic film that has self-adhesive properties. It can handle most filaments, it is easy to apply and in most cases it is not necessary to use other adhesive preparations. If you really want to increase its adhesion, you don't need to be afraid to apply a product like 3DLac on it .

Basic properties: self-adhesive, simple application

Suitable for filaments:  PLA, PET/PET-G, ABS, ASA, CPE, TPU

Sometimes it wouldn't be possible without helpers 

If you have chosen the right pad for the specific material you are printing with, but the results are still not optimal, it is time for additional accessories that will bring your printing closer to perfection. 

Kapton or polyimide tape

This is a special type of high temperature adhesive tape that you can use as an additional layer of the printing pad. On one side, the tape is equipped with an adhesive so that you can stick it to the printing pad, and on the other side, it is made of polyimide material. This material can boast excellent adhesion. It is most often used in conjunction with ABS and PLA filaments. You don't have to worry about high temperatures when printing, because it can handle up to 280 °C (after these temperatures are exceeded, it will be damaged or no longer adhesive). Another positive aspect is that Kapton tape is relatively inexpensive. But despite the praise heaped on this tape, there is one drawback – the lengthy application of the tape to the pad. To achieve the desired results, you must carefully stick the tape to the mat and smooth its surface, thereby getting rid of all air bubbles.

Basic properties: excellent adhesiveness, high temperature resistance, low purchase price

Suitable for filaments : PLA, ABS, PET-G

Blue tape

Without exaggeration, blue tape could be included among the basic equipment of a printer. And this is due to the fact that it is relatively cheap, easy to use and fulfills its function. You can also apply glue or ABS Juice to the tape, but it shouldn't be necessary in most cases. The tape can be easily applied and then removed, and it can be used repeatedly. It is most often available in the tape version , but it can also be purchased in the shape of a square . It can withstand temperatures of 100 °C for a long time, and 130 °C for a short time.

Basic properties : easy application, cheap purchase price, repeated use

Suitable for filaments: PLA (most common use)

Adhesive

Sometimes a simple solution is the right solution - classic glue can be a good helper to solve your print adhesion woes. This is a simple and cheap option. Apply only a thin layer to the mat. It is necessary to think about frequent cleaning of the mat, because glue residues could stick to the mat, which would not benefit further printing. Classic glue does not have extra adhesive properties, but it can handle filaments such as PLA and ABS.

Basic features : simple solution, cheap purchase price, frequent cleaning of the pad is necessary

Suitable for filaments: PLA, ABS

3DLAC spray/lacquer

The 3DLAC brand comes with another option to solve insufficient adhesion of prints. It is available in the form of varnish or spray with a pump . It is enough to apply a thin layer of spray from a distance of approx. 20 cm to the mat. But you need to think again about its frequent cleaning. After cooling, the prints are easily removed. 

Basic properties : simple application, frequent cleaning of the pad is necessary, without perfume

Suitable for filaments: most filament types