One of the most annoying things with 3D printers that extrude thermoplastic material to build up a 3D model layer by layer is the fact that you need to have a built plate that will provide enough adhesion and easy removal of the printed parts. This has proven to be hard to achieve with various tapes being the most commonly used solution such as Kapton tape for ABS and 3M Blue Scotch tape for PLA. The problem with the tapes is that they wear off and tear over time and prints, especially when you try to remove a 3D printed object from the tape. This means you need to replace the tape with a new one pretty often and that can be costly as both Kapton tape and 3D Blue Scotch tape is actually not very cheap at the sizes needed to cover the build plate of a 3D printer. That is why other more durable solutions are being worked on and people are experimenting with various other options for 3D printing that would provide better durability and lower cost. One such very promising solution is the GeckoTek 3D printer build plate that we have mentioned already and have pre-ordered, but the creators of the product have been experiencing some delays in finishing the product and they still have not started shipping it. So we are always on the lookout for other alternative options and one that we have just found out is the BuildTak 3D printing surface that we have ordered and plan to test after the holidays when it arrives.

The BuildTak 3D printing surface is a thin plastic sheet of special surface that sticks on top of your standard build plate providing an easy to install and durable alternative to various tapes such as the ones already mentioned. It is supposed to provide an optimal printing surface for 3D objects to adhere to for the duration of a print, while allowing for a clean, easy removal of completed builds. It is heat-resistant, so that you should be able to use it for ABS printing as well if you have a 3D printer with a heated build platform and not only PLA. The best of all is that a single sheet of BuildTak should be significantly more durable than any kind of tape and the price should not be much higher than a roll of Kapton tape or 3M Blue Scotch painters tape and hopefully the BuildTak should outlast it. The surface is available in multiple pre-cut sizes including rectangle, square and circle shapes that should fit on most FFF/FDM 3D printers available and if the size you need is not available you can go for a larger one and then cut the extra. We are hopefully going to be able to confirm if all of these good sounding claims by the manufacturer will prove to be true when we get our order of BuildTak surface and try it out on out MakerBot Replicator 2 3D printer.

– For more information about the special BuildTak alternative 3D printing surface…

• Optimizing the Filament Spool and Guide on MakerBot Replicator 2
• New and Improved 3D Printer Nozzles from Performance 3-D
• MakerBot Replicator 2 Upgrades from BC Technological Solutions
• Building the RoboSavvy Universal Spool Holder
• The GeckoTek 3D Printer Build Plate Sound Very Promising
• BuildTak, an Alternative 3D Printing Surface
• Removable Heated Build Plate Upgrade for MakerBot Replicator 2
• Makerbot Replicator 2 Extruder Filament Drive Upgrade
• Adding Aluminum Arm Stiffeners to Replicator 2
• First Impressions from the Aluminum Arm Upgrade from BC Technological Solutions
• Hotend Upgrade for MakerBot Replicator 2 3D Printer
• Using Dial Gauge to Level the Build Plate More Precisely
• We Finally Received Our GeckoTek Build Plate
• Upgrading the Build Plate to Glass One, Should You
• MakerBot Replicator 2 Upgrade to Linear Bearings
• Upgrade: Aluminum Idler kit for MakerBot Replicator 2 X-End
• GeckoTek 3D Printer Build Plate Will Be Delayed
• Replacing the Extruder Nozzle of MakerBot Replicator 2