How to remove flexible filament

from print bed

Flexible filament can stick too well to the bed of the 3D printer.

Here is the breaking news! NEW DISCOVERY (as of 2016)!

Putting a little talcum powder on the bed solves the problem!

By the way, the surface of my printer bed has a peel and stick sheet called PEI. I love it. Obviously if your printer has a different surface you have to experiment to see if powder works for you.

The PEI surface becomes "tackier" when warm, but also softer…so I let it cool before going at it with a flexible putty knife! Before printing I clean it with some alcohol to remove any invisible trace of grease from my fingers, then I add the powder for flexible filament prints.

I am putting less and less powder each time. It really only needs a tiny bit.

Talcum powder: Baby powder (with no perfume, yay!)

(I'm using the kind with talc, not corn starch…they may both work…I dunno yet)

Filament: Flexible TPU 1.75 mm

Printer: Original Prusa i3 MK2, MK3

Bed surface: PEI peel and stick sheet (MK2 260mm x 225mm or larger; MK3 260mm x 242mm or larger)

You can see all the various sheet sizes here.

Nozzle temperature: 210-225 C

(I've gone up to 240°C to get better side-by-side layer bonding)

Bed temperature: 50° C (I am still experimenting with this, too)

Print speed: 30 mm/sec

I've also tried 40, 50 mm/sec…yes, I'm still experimenting with this, too.

And life goes on…

A little talcum powder makes it easy to remove sticky prints

Here is video comparing a half bare bed vs half with baby powder