<p>Googling "what temperature for different filaments" gives a few good links, but the top link looks golden.</p>

<p><a href="https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide" rel="nofollow">https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide</a></p>

<p>They have temperature guides for both extrusion temperatures and heated bed, as well as suggestions for better adhesion. I'm not that experienced, but their information is similar to information I've seen elsewhere.</p>

<p>Their suggestion for PLA is 215-235 degrees Celsius and a bed temperature of 60 to 80 degrees. That sounds a bit hot to me but every brand (and type) of filament will perform best at different temperatures. I've had problem getting nice bridges at 210 degrees, but had excellent results at 190.</p>

<p>For ABS they say 230 to 240 degrees with the bed at 80 to 100.</p>

<p>Use these values as a starting point, when they fail you make an educated guess about what went wrong and adjust (one parameter at a time) til it works for you. Find a calibration object you like and trim the temperatures so it prints the best your printer can. At this point in the technology experimentation is a large part of making things work.</p>

<p>One thing that's important to remember is that the temperature that you set your bed to and the temperature that your bed gets to is not the same thing. Depending on the construction, assembly and quality of your heater the actual temperature can differ anything from almost nothing to twenty degrees or more.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-12T14:33:55.667Z
Thank you, so am I right in understanding that heating is about adhesion and combating warp as the piece cools? And this only matters for the first layers?
Beeblebrox
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-12T14:40:01.257Z
It matters mostly about adhesion and warp. Mind you, when I'm using hairspray+pla, the print only sticks as long as the heat is on. When the build plate cools the print no longer sticks to the plate, so I can't turn the heat off after the first layer. When I find the time I'll experiment with higher temperature for first layer than the rest of the print. I.e. is there a benefit using a higher temperature on the first layer and/or a lower temperature for the following.
Pelle
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-13T10:03:03.743Z
@TomvanderZanden That's a valid comment, I'm new here but I'm trying to learn. I've edited and hope that made it a better answer.
Pelle
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-12T12:10:04.433Z
2016-08-13T10:01:42.217Z
2016-08-13T10:01:42.217Z
Pelle
<p>First you say 90c, which means you are talking about ABS likely. I state this as some PLA printers do not even use heated beds, and instead use elaborate rafts only. (Makerbot)</p>

<p>Now that I have gotten that out of the way I wanted to point out to you that it really isn't using that much power. 110 watts (based off this fellow)</p>

<p><a href="http://reprage.com/post/39698552378/how-much-power-does-a-3d-printer-use" rel="nofollow">http://reprage.com/post/39698552378/how-much-power-does-a-3d-printer-use</a></p>

<p>8 hours. 0.11 USD. </p>

<p><a href="http://energy.gov/energysaver/estimating-appliance-and-home-electronic-energy-use" rel="nofollow">http://energy.gov/energysaver/estimating-appliance-and-home-electronic-energy-use</a></p>

<p>I am sure this number is not 100% spot on. That said having had used a power monitor when I first started out I can confirm getting very cheap results. Actually I calculated the costs of powering my 1 meter by 1 meter silicon heater. It was not that much.</p>

<p>This will not apply to every printer. Some are built better than others.</p>

<p>Last for Min Temp. You will pick the temp that works for the specific plastic. Every plastic is different. Materials with high pigments usually need higher temps for extrusions. That said, generally PLA is 60. ABS is 90-100. When it is wrong you will see more (almost always see some) heat warping.</p>

<p>I also want to mention that heat chambers give the best result and would not require you to use the bed as much. You don't see these on printers for two reasons. Heaters can catch fire, and because of patents blocking people from selling (nothing stopping you though. Look into just using a Box without an active heater if it is still a concern</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-13T22:45:12.177Z
Hi Tom. Hmm. I really hate to do this to you bud. Here is what you find if you google "patent stratasys heatchamber".. US 6722872 B1, US 7297304 B2, US 20040104515 A1, 
http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?1,368470
Currently on the market in the sub pro is the z18 and a few other sub pro stratasys level companies.. That said there is always a way around it.. IE https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/43zh0x/how_do_these_guys_avoid_the_heated_chamber_patent/ Bottom line there are patents, and most do not tangle with that evil company.
MakerModder
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-13T22:48:32.067Z
I am not going to comment about the difference in fire risk between a space heater that is enclosed verses a tiny resister.
MakerModder
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-14T00:08:42.733Z
Hi Tom, yes I covered both views in my reply for completion. Following bypassing is not the same as invalid. As anyone who works with patents know there is no perfect patent. That said, my stance is still these patents and the fear of the lawyers employed by Stratasys is exactly the reason you do not see these in the market. Frankly we are talking about posts titled "How do these guys avoid the heated chamber patent?" which infers that there is such an established and known patent issue. That said this might be a better discussion outside of comments as we are out of scope for this question.
MakerModder
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-12T20:58:15.623Z
2016-08-12T20:58:15.623Z
MakerModder
<p>Heatbeds have two purposes:</p>

<ol>
<li>Increase surface energy of the print bed to improve bonding strength of the first layer (particularly important when using surfaces like PEI or Kapton)</li>
<li>Keep the bottom few millimeters of the print hot enough to provide a warp-free foundation for the rest of the print. </li>
</ol>

<p>The bit about surface energy is straightforward. Most materials are stickier when hot than cold. In comparison, pure mechanical-bonding bed surfaces like fibrous painter's tape and perfboard don't particularly benefit from bed heat.</p>

<p>Warping is a bit more complicated. The basic cause of warping is when the previous layer is allowed to cool and thermally contract before the next layer is deposited. When you stick hot, expanded material on top of cold, contracted material, large shear stresses are generated when the fresh material cools and contracts. Those inter-layer shear stresses then accumulate over many layers into large-scale bending stresses that try to lift the edges of the print off the bed.</p>

<p>So, to prevent warping, we should minimize the amount that the previous layer is allowed to cool before the next layer goes down. But we DO need it to cool solid so the print doesn't sag in a mushy mess. This is a balancing act: cooling the plastic solid without over-cooling it. The optimal temperature for the print is right around the glass point of the plastic: this is the temperature at which the plastic becomes fully solid and thermal contraction stresses start to accumulate. </p>

<p>The extruder pumps more heat into the print as it deposits molten plastic and radiates a little bit of heat. So we want to set the heatbed temp a little bit below the glass point to ensure the print is able to cool solid. Now, this gets a bit difficult, because everyone's print bed temperature sensor is different. What matters is bed surface temp. Many people have to set their bed temp quite a bit higher than the actual surface temp. It's just something you have to calibrate via print results. The exact filament glass point (Tg) also depends on the blend. </p>

<ul>
<li>ABS: Tg is around 105C, optimal bed temp 95C in a warm, low-airflow environment</li>
<li>PLA: Tg is around 55C, optimal bed temp is 55C in a cool, high-airflow environment because PLA holds heat and is slow to cool compared to other filaments</li>
<li>PETG: Tg is around 70C, optimal bed temp is 60-70C with mild airflow</li>
<li>Nylon doesn't really work with these rules because it's semi-crystalline, meaning it "freezes" far above its Tg and thus starts accumulating warping stress at fairly high temps... advice varies wildly, from printing cold to 120C bed</li>
<li>PC: Tg is around 150C, optimal bed temp is 130C</li>
</ul>

<p>There are other schools of thought, for example printing the first layer onto a surface much hotter than Tg for good adhesion, and then dropping the bed temp to a value somewhat below Tg to allow the print to solidify. That works fine too. </p>

<p>But, with all that said, it's important to understand that the heatbed only keeps the bottom of the print warm. A centimeter up from the build plate, the print is typically much closer to ambient temp than it is to the bed temp. Heated build chambers are thus much more effective for large prints. But heatbeds are still quite effective, because they allow building a strong, warp-free foundation that resists warping stresses induced by the cooler zones higher up in the print. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-13T06:23:17.493Z
Thank you, your answer has basically pointed out my fundamental question is 'why do you use a heatbed'. I think I should edit my question to suit.
Beeblebrox
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-13T11:06:49.570Z
@Beeblebrox Please do not edit your question to significantly change its meaning, as that means answers may become invalidated. Instead, you should ask a new question.
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-13T17:23:48.427Z
Well seeing how I changed it a few hours before your comment, hopefully it's still kosher ;)
Beeblebrox
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-12T21:08:23.000Z
2016-08-12T21:08:23.000Z
Ryan Carlyle
<p>When using a heated bed with your printer, I have seen claims of running temperatures of 90c throughout the print.</p>

<p>That seems like a fairly high power use to keep a large slab of, say, aluminium at 90c for long print times (ie multiple hours).</p>

<p>Is there a common 'sweet spot' for operating temperature?</p>

<p>Does it depend on material?</p>

<p>Is a heated bed required?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-12T07:55:20.143Z
Did you read the reprap wiki's entry on heated beds? http://reprap.org/wiki/Heated_Bed
kamuro
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-12T14:32:25.550Z
@kamuro - no I did not, thanks! Very new and jumping in at the deepend, looks a great resource.
Beeblebrox
<heated-bed>
Heated bed - what are the benefits? Why use one?
Beeblebrox
# Heated bed - what are the benefits? Why use one?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-12)

When using a heated bed with your printer, I have seen claims of running temperatures of 90c throughout the print.

That seems like a fairly high power use to keep a large slab of, say, aluminium at 90c for long print times (ie multiple hours).

Is there a common 'sweet spot' for operating temperature?

Does it depend on material?

Is a heated bed required?

**Tags:** heated-bed
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Did you read the reprap wiki's entry on heated beds? http://reprap.org/wiki/Heated_Bed  
> **username_0**: @kamuro - no I did not, thanks! Very new and jumping in at the deepend, looks a great resource.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-08-12. Score: 15 | Accepted answer

Heatbeds have two purposes:

1. Increase surface energy of the print bed to improve bonding strength of the first layer (particularly important when using surfaces like PEI or Kapton)
2. Keep the bottom few millimeters of the print hot enough to provide a warp-free foundation for the rest of the print.

The bit about surface energy is straightforward. Most materials are stickier when hot than cold. In comparison, pure mechanical-bonding bed surfaces like fibrous painter's tape and perfboard don't particularly benefit from bed heat.

Warping is a bit more complicated. The basic cause of warping is when the previous layer is allowed to cool and thermally contract before the next layer is deposited. When you stick hot, expanded material on top of cold, contracted material, large shear stresses are generated when the fresh material cools and contracts. Those inter-layer shear stresses then accumulate over many layers into large-scale bending stresses that try to lift the edges of the print off the bed.

So, to prevent warping, we should minimize the amount that the previous layer is allowed to cool before the next layer goes down. But we DO need it to cool solid so the print doesn't sag in a mushy mess. This is a balancing act: cooling the plastic solid without over-cooling it. The optimal temperature for the print is right around the glass point of the plastic: this is the temperature at which the plastic becomes fully solid and thermal contraction stresses start to accumulate.

The extruder pumps more heat into the print as it deposits molten plastic and radiates a little bit of heat. So we want to set the heatbed temp a little bit below the glass point to ensure the print is able to cool solid. Now, this gets a bit difficult, because everyone's print bed temperature sensor is different. What matters is bed surface temp. Many people have to set their bed temp quite a bit higher than the actual surface temp. It's just something you have to calibrate via print results. The exact filament glass point (Tg) also depends on the blend.

* ABS: Tg is around 105C, optimal bed temp 95C in a warm, low-airflow environment
* PLA: Tg is around 55C, optimal bed temp is 55C in a cool, high-airflow environment because PLA holds heat and is slow to cool compared to other filaments
* PETG: Tg is around 70C, optimal bed temp is 60-70C with mild airflow
* Nylon doesn't really work with these rules because it's semi-crystalline, meaning it "freezes" far above its Tg and thus starts accumulating warping stress at fairly high temps... advice varies wildly, from printing cold to 120C bed
* PC: Tg is around 150C, optimal bed temp is 130C

There are other schools of thought, for example printing the first layer onto a surface much hotter than Tg for good adhesion, and then dropping the bed temp to a value somewhat below Tg to allow the print to solidify. That works fine too.

But, with all that said, it's important to understand that the heatbed only keeps the bottom of the print warm. A centimeter up from the build plate, the print is typically much closer to ambient temp than it is to the bed temp. Heated build chambers are thus much more effective for large prints. But heatbeds are still quite effective, because they allow building a strong, warp-free foundation that resists warping stresses induced by the cooler zones higher up in the print.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you, your answer has basically pointed out my fundamental question is 'why do you use a heatbed'. I think I should edit my question to suit.  
> **username_5**: @Beeblebrox Please do not edit your question to significantly change its meaning, as that means answers may become invalidated. Instead, you should ask a new question.  
> **username_0**: Well seeing how I changed it a few hours before your comment, hopefully it's still kosher ;)  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-12. Score: 4

Googling "what temperature for different filaments" gives a few good links, but the top link looks golden.

<https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide>

They have temperature guides for both extrusion temperatures and heated bed, as well as suggestions for better adhesion. I'm not that experienced, but their information is similar to information I've seen elsewhere.

Their suggestion for PLA is 215-235 degrees Celsius and a bed temperature of 60 to 80 degrees. That sounds a bit hot to me but every brand (and type) of filament will perform best at different temperatures. I've had problem getting nice bridges at 210 degrees, but had excellent results at 190.

For ABS they say 230 to 240 degrees with the bed at 80 to 100.

Use these values as a starting point, when they fail you make an educated guess about what went wrong and adjust (one parameter at a time) til it works for you. Find a calibration object you like and trim the temperatures so it prints the best your printer can. At this point in the technology experimentation is a large part of making things work.

One thing that's important to remember is that the temperature that you set your bed to and the temperature that your bed gets to is not the same thing. Depending on the construction, assembly and quality of your heater the actual temperature can differ anything from almost nothing to twenty degrees or more.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you, so am I right in understanding that heating is about adhesion and combating warp as the piece cools? And this only matters for the first layers?  
> **username_2**: It matters mostly about adhesion and warp. Mind you, when I'm using hairspray+pla, the print only sticks as long as the heat is on. When the build plate cools the print no longer sticks to the plate, so I can't turn the heat off after the first layer. When I find the time I'll experiment with higher temperature for first layer than the rest of the print. I.e. is there a benefit using a higher temperature on the first layer and/or a lower temperature for the following.  
> **username_2**: @TomvanderZanden That's a valid comment, I'm new here but I'm trying to learn. I've edited and hope that made it a better answer.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-12. Score: 1

First you say 90c, which means you are talking about ABS likely. I state this as some PLA printers do not even use heated beds, and instead use elaborate rafts only. (Makerbot)

Now that I have gotten that out of the way I wanted to point out to you that it really isn't using that much power. 110 watts (based off this fellow)

<http://reprage.com/post/39698552378/how-much-power-does-a-3d-printer-use>

8 hours. 0.11 USD.

<http://energy.gov/energysaver/estimating-appliance-and-home-electronic-energy-use>

I am sure this number is not 100% spot on. That said having had used a power monitor when I first started out I can confirm getting very cheap results. Actually I calculated the costs of powering my 1 meter by 1 meter silicon heater. It was not that much.

This will not apply to every printer. Some are built better than others.

Last for Min Temp. You will pick the temp that works for the specific plastic. Every plastic is different. Materials with high pigments usually need higher temps for extrusions. That said, generally PLA is 60. ABS is 90-100. When it is wrong you will see more (almost always see some) heat warping.

I also want to mention that heat chambers give the best result and would not require you to use the bed as much. You don't see these on printers for two reasons. Heaters can catch fire, and because of patents blocking people from selling (nothing stopping you though. Look into just using a Box without an active heater if it is still a concern

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Hi Tom. Hmm. I really hate to do this to you bud. Here is what you find if you google "patent stratasys heatchamber".. US 6722872 B1, US 7297304 B2, US 20040104515 A1,  http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?1,368470 Currently on the market in the sub pro is the z18 and a few other sub pro stratasys level companies.. That said there is always a way around it.. IE https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/43zh0x/how_do_these_guys_avoid_the_heated_chamber_patent/ Bottom line there are patents, and most do not tangle with that evil company.  
> **username_3**: I am not going to comment about the difference in fire risk between a space heater that is enclosed verses a tiny resister.  
> **username_3**: Hi Tom, yes I covered both views in my reply for completion. Following bypassing is not the same as invalid. As anyone who works with patents know there is no perfect patent. That said, my stance is still these patents and the fear of the lawyers employed by Stratasys is exactly the reason you do not see these in the market. Frankly we are talking about posts titled "How do these guys avoid the heated chamber patent?" which infers that there is such an established and known patent issue. That said this might be a better discussion outside of comments as we are out of scope for this question.  

---

