In the beginnings of desktop 3D printing, there weren’t a lot of options for your printer’s bed surface. Most users would apply blue painter’s tape to their printer’s bed to get better adhesion for their 3D prints, and, although this was a viable solution, it would often rip, tear, or stay attached to the printed part after removal. Buildtak introduced a build surface adhesive sheet designed for 3D printing and have continued to expand and improve their offerings with Buildtak PEI build surfaces and the Buildtak Flexplate System.

Let's break it down-

Original Buildtak Build Surface

Buildtak’s original build surface, simply called Buildtak, is designed to provide successful adhesion with a multitude of different 3D printing materials, with or without a heated bed. If your printer does have a heated bed,  you will want to adjust your bed’s temperature depending on the material you’re using to get optimal adhesion.  Thankfully Buildtak adheres well at nearly all temperatures - even as high as 110°C! Buildtak sheets are available in several sizes, but if you can’t find one in the exact size of your 3D printer’s bed, you can easily cut a sheet down to size or place multiple sheets together to fit your 3D printer.

The original Buildtak textured build surface is tried and true for almost every material that you can throw at it, from PLA to flexibles.
The original Buildtak textured build surface is tried and true for almost every material that you can throw at it, from PLA to flexibles.

Buildtak PEI Build Surface

PEI is a unique polymer when it comes to 3D printer bed surfaces; at printing temperatures, 3D prints stick to it extremely well, yet when the PEI build surface cools to room temperature 3D parts pop off with a gentle tap and a satisfying release. Buildtak PEI is more durable than original Buildtak sheets and will outlive general 3D printing wear and tear. 

PEI is basically magic in how it holds onto 3D prints while hot yet allows them to just pop off when cool.
PEI is basically magic in how it holds onto 3D prints while hot yet allows them to just pop off when cool.

Buildtak Flexplate System

With the Buildtak Flexplate System, you can take your 3D printing productivity to another level. The system consists of 3 parts: a magnetic base adhered to a 3D printer’s bed surface, a flexible spring steel sheet, and a sheet of Buildtak to adhere to the spring steel. With other build surface options, including original Buildtak sheets, you will need to use some tool to pry off the finished 3D printed part, but with the Flexplate System you can remove the entire spring steel sheet from your 3D printer, bend it, flex it, twist it and your 3D print will pop right off. You won’t have to wait for your bed to cool down or worry about damaging your bed surface, and can instead get right back to printing. Paired with a Buildtak PEI build surface, you can go from print finished to print removed in seconds.

Buildtak was ahead of the curve when they introduced the revolutionary new spring steel Flexplate System.
Buildtak was ahead of the curve when they introduced the revolutionary new spring steel Flexplate System.

Buildtak is well known in the 3D printing industry for their affordable, effective, and easy-to-use build surfaces that can make 3D printing a much more productive process.  To learn more and to order your Buildtak sheet today, check out the collection here.