blog:2025:03:21:2025-03-21_-_mirror_mirror [BaSzErr]

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====== 2025-03-21 - mirror, mirror... ======

after doing [[blog:2025:03:02:2025-03-02_-_voron_tap_v2_impressions|Voron Tap upgrade]], it was time to make a good use of the opportunity and add my favorite build plate -- 2nd surface mirror! :D

{{:blog:2025:03:21:printbed_in_action.jpg?600|printbed in action}}

the caveat was that i had to build it myself.

sheet of glass is not good enough, as usually it's not flat-enough. mirrors however are. it needs to be 2nd surface mirror, to make sure coat is not ripped off when object is removed. also, compared fixed bed from my previous printer, this one had to be removable.

the solution was to buy cut-to-size 2nd surface mirror, cut to the same size plate magnetic sheet of steel plate... and glue it together with a thin layer of heat-conductive adhesive.

{{:blog:2025:03:21:front.jpg?400|top side}}
{{:blog:2025:03:21:back.jpg?400|bottom side}}
{{:blog:2025:03:21:side_view.jpg?400|side view}}

after 24h of curing, it was time for the 1st print... and it came out absolutely perfect! :D

while i do see benefit of PEI sheets, having removable super-flat glass plate makes all the difference in some cases... and now i can swap back and forth between both options! :)

here's an executive summary of both options:

^ property ^ PEI ^ mirror ^
| weight | super light | heavy |
| surface finish | porous pattern | mirror-flat |
| heat transfer | good and fast | good, medium-fast |
| heat capacity | low | high |
| bends | yes | no |
| print materials | usual suspects | usual suspects |
| cost | 20-40 EUR | ~30 EUR  |
| availability | good | source materials are easy to obtain |

blog/2025/03/21/2025-03-21_-_mirror_mirror.txt · Last modified: 2025/03/21 19:47 by basz

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