Heated Build Plate on Rep2 (NON-X)

[Lewis Dominguez]

Would it be worth it buying a specially made heated build plate for a rep2? I've seen success stories with them, but I'd like to get a good opinion on if it's a good idea or a 'sometimes it works'. At the moment, my printer is only able to do standard PLA (no nozzle for exotics), which has been useful, but I'd like to include ABS and Exotics in the future, especially since ABS models would be able to be acetone smoothed. 

Current Build Plate is the makerbot acrylic plate, using blue build tape. 

The other possibility is purchasing an I3 Prusa MK2S and the multifilament extrusion kit. It wouldn't be usable until september or later, but it WOULD enable the lab I'm working in to do a lot more than PLA models. 

[TobyCWood]

The only good HBP upgrade that I know of was the Bottleworks, which is no longer sold. The only real need for a HBP is ABS, HIPS or PC. The other filaments... Nylon, TPU, PETg and all the HTPLAs do not require it. The Rep2's nozzle will work perfectly fine with all of these "exotic" filaments. PLA can be limonene smoothed. Get yourself a drop-in, glass or anodized aluminum replacement build plate and learn to use Aquanet Super Extra hold unscented. Also... you need to upgrade the CARRIAGE not the nozzle(although you do need to have spare nozzles!). You need an aluminum carriage or the ABS extruder carriage will sag from the >230C heat. For that I recommend Carl Raffle's upgrade; https://shop.raffle.ch

I suggest you forget about ABS. Instead upgrade the carriage, the plate and learn to print PETg. MUCH better then ABS! ABS is a lot more pain then it is worth.

I also suggest you listen to the 3D Printing Today podcast where we detail and discuss about all of the above; threedprintingtoday.libsyn.com

Blatant plug? YAH!

[Lewis Dominguez]

Will the standard rep2 nozzle work with glow in the dark or metal infused filaments? These were more what I was thinking when referring to exotics, although it would have made more sense to be discussing other kinds of filaments.

[Jetguy]

Yes, it will work with, all the way until it doesn't and wears the nozzle out.
Glow in the dark filament has glow in the dark filler which is KNOWN to be abrasive.
As such, yes, absolutely it will print.
However, after about a spool of Glow in the dark (often abbreviated GITD in forums) your nozzle tip will wear larger diameter and thus cause other prints to have problems later.

Again, you absolutely can print with them, just don't be surprised later to do some measuring, inspection, and testing and find your nozzle worn.

[Jetguy]

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/3nt65e/how_abrasive_are_glowinthedark_filaments/

The 2 official company statements from that thread:

http://www.toybuilderlabs.com/products/3-00mm-glow-in-the-dark-pla-plastic-filament

Please note: Like most high-performance glow in the dark products, the Strontium-Aluminate glow pigment contained in this filament is abrasive.  Using this filament will wear down your nozzle and other extruder components.

http://www.formfutura.com/175mm-easyfil-abs-glow-in-the-dark-green.html

abrasiveness Please be aware that Glow in the Dark filaments contain a relatively high concentration of extremely hard phosphorous particles, which have an abrasive nature.  In general these phosphorous particles will accelerate the nozzle-wear of brass nozzles, much faster than unfilled filaments. We recommend to use nozzles from stainless steel or other hardened alloys.

So, there are 2 brands of nozzles that are hard coated upgrades for the MK8 extruder you have.

https://store.micro-swiss.com/products/mk8

https://www.p3-d.com/collections/duraplat-3d-extruder-nozzles

I have used both for years now.