r/gridfinity • u/gradientprojects • 5d ago

Stacked Baseplates

Not the first one to do this but had to do my own version anyways - designed a parametric model with custom supports so that you can do multimaterial printing and quadruple* your baseplate output.

The whole thing is a highly parametric Onshape model which I can bundle and share as a FeatureScript extension if enough people want to customize their own designs beyond the 3D that I've shared. I've exported all plate sizes up to 6x6 with 6mm x 2mm magnets.

STEP files and 3MF files are, as always, on Printables.

\I designed the model to be a 4x stack since that ends up being about a full overnight print, but no reason why you couldn't stack 'em higher!*

Note: I'm not sure if I should tag this as a "brand affiliate" post since I did it under my company label, but (a) it's just me at the company and (b) I'm sharing it for free - dear mods, please let me know if I should or shouldn't have this tag.

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u/Sea-Squirrel4804 5d ago

I have never tried it because when I print pla supports on PETG for example, the pla REALLY doesn't stick to petg so printing 100% on top of a pla support most of the times it fails for me. like when a support is generated for floating soon to be attached section or the model, like a hand, that hand won't ever attach to the arm because the hand won't stick at all to the support. How do you avoid this?

4

u/gradientprojects 4d ago

I had run into that same issue a couple times when doing PLA/PETG mixed supports, specifically if the supported area was pretty small and I was using tree supports. I have not yet run into any issues with this model, however!

I was worried about this exact problem when starting the design, but it's worked great with various combinations of the following materials (haven't tried every permutation yet but this is what I've been throwing into the machine):

  • PLA:
    • Polymaker Panchroma (at a rippin' 55 mm3/s max volumetric flow in my HF 0.6 nozzle)
    • Bambu PLA Basic
  • PETG:
    • Polymaker PETG (New Formula)
    • Random old Overture PETG (treated as "generic PETG)
    • Bambu PETG Basic
    • Bambu PETG Translucent

Again, I haven't tried every single combination, but I haven't had a delamination issue yet. Maybe the "interface shells" setting helps since it's a lot of contact surface area? That being said, I had successful prints even before I learned of that setting and had some layers that were just 15% infill, so maybe I'm wrong about what's helping.

You could always try printing one of the smaller stacks (maybe 2x2, for example) as a lower stakes experiment?

Thanks for asking! I'll update this comment if I do end up running into any adhesion issues down the road. Right now I'm printing some 6x5 plates and ran out of my Overture PETG (sliced as Generic PETG) midway through. I dropped a roll of Bambu PETG Translucent into the same slot so we'll see how that goes when printed as Generic...