Another Print Adhesion Solution: FlatForce

By on December 9th, 2016 in Hardware

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 Different shapes for the FlatForce 3D printer adhesion system
Different shapes for the FlatForce 3D printer adhesion system

With increasing interest in unusual 3D printing materials, a corresponding increase in adhesion solutions is occurring. 

Italy-based Northype produces an adhesion plate accessory for open 3D printers that can greatly assist the problem of material adhesion during 3D printing operations. 

Adhesion is a critical issue during 3D printing, as any 3D printer operator will immediately attest. Solutions are quite varied and involve specialized plates, chemical applications, tape, sprays and other unusual and often messy approaches. 

Many 3D printer manufacturers today produce devices with heated build plates that do work with many plastics, but sometimes that isnā€™t sufficient. Itā€™s not uncommon to see a heated build plate with Kapton tape applied to ensure the ABS will stick. So heated plates are not always the answer. 

Northype produces a specialized plate that can replace the glass plate on your heated build platform to provide additional adhesion. Their claim to fame is that they are able to provide adhesion for a much wider variety of materials, including many engineering materials such as nylon. In fact, they boast of 47 tested materials as of this writing. 

With such a print surface, you can actually reduce the heat of your build plate and still obtain suitable adhesion. Here is the comparison chart for the FlatForce plate: 

 FlatForce temperature comparison chart
FlatForce temperature comparison chart

This is a very useful accessory, as it greatly simplifies the print operations by avoiding the application, maintenance and monitoring of secondary solutions like tape, liquids and sprays.  It should also increase print reliability and even reduce your print times by reducing the heat-up time for the build plate. 

 Different models of the FlatForce 3D printer adhesion system
Different models of the FlatForce 3D printer adhesion system

The FlatForce plate is available in multiple sizes and shapes, with prices ranging from a low of ā‚¬34 (USD$) to ā‚¬87 (USD$). 

Via Northype

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!