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How Hot Should My 3D Printer Bed Be?

Lawrence Bonk Profile image

Written by:

Lawrence Bonk
Updated January 16, 2023

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If you are new to the world of physical printing, you may wonder how hot should a 3D printer be. Some of the best printers, after all, are 3D printers, and these models can get pretty hot for a number of reasons. So how hot do the best 3D printers get, does this impact 3D models, and what are some tips to reduce the heat? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • 3D printers are often hot as a matter of design and when being overused to create multiple objects, not to mention the appearance of ambient temperatures.
  • The print bed is often heated to assist with adhesion, as slightly heated layers will stick together easily to improve print quality. This is sometimes called glass transition temperature.
  • Certain printing materials require different temperatures from others, so adjust print settings accordingly.

Why Do 3D Printers Get Hot?

Before learning about 3D printer bridging tips, it can be helpful to learn why these printers get hot in the first place. These are large contraptions with various moving parts, so they get hot like any computer would if you are wondering how many watts a 3D printer uses.

Insider Tip

Make a habit out of cleaning the print bed after every print job, as heated beds tend to collect debris and melted materials.

Beyond that, however, much of the heat generated by these printers is purposeful if you just learned how 3D printers are made. The printers include multiple heat sources to heat up the resin or filament as part of the application process if you are learning how resin-based printers work. The print bed, which houses the object as it is being built, also tends to be heated to assist with adherence.

How Hot Should a Print Bed Be?

This depends on the printer’s design and the object being printed. In other words, there is no universally accepted “correct temperature” of print beds. Generally speaking, ABS requires more heat than PLA materials. Additionally, not all materials do well with heated beds of any kind.

Tips to Ensure the Correct Print Bed Temperature

Here are some useful tips to ensure your print bed is set to the correct temperature as you make 3D objects.

  • Check the material – Different filament and resin materials require unique temperature settings, both internally and via the print bed. Double-check what kind of material you are using before smashing that print button.
  • Inspect the build – Adjust the temperature of the print bed on the fly according to the build. Inspect the object as it is being built and if the bottom, for instance, seems a bit too wiggly, lower the temperature. If the object struggles to adhere to the print bed, raise the temperature.
  • Clean the bed – Keep the print bed clean to avoid lingering debris and leftover heated materials.

STAT: Despite the fact that nearly every filament currently in use is a thermoplastic, each has its own temperature requirements. That’s because individual filaments are chemically very different from one another. (source)

Heated Printed Bed FAQs

How do you succeed when printing in PLA?

Go slowly, pay attention to extruder gears, and use blue tape to outline your object. Other than that, PLA is not so different from other printing materials.

What is the best printing temperature for 3D printing?

It depends on the printer itself and the materials being used. Quality filament can hold up to higher temperatures than subpar filament, for instance. These types of flexible filament spools do well with a heated build plate.

Should I use a heated bed for PLA?

PLA, otherwise called polylactic acid, does not require a heated bed, unlike ABS filament spools and other 3D printing materials. However, high bed temperatures still assist with the adhesion of those crucial initial layers.
Lawrence Bonk Profile image
Lawrence Bonk
Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.