Troubleshooting Adhesion Issues

FDM 3D printing is not for the faint of heart, and all the variables can make it hard to troubleshoot. Thankfully, with over 2 years of selling Fula-Flex, we’ve picked up on some problematic slicer settings and useful tips! If you are having trouble with a certain material sticking, check out our printing materials guide!

The Wonder Settings

In our two years of selling PEI Fula-Flex plates, the following slicer settings have fixed 95% of adhesion issues any Fula-Flex users were having.

  • 0.30mm first layer height
  • 125% first layer width
  • Heatbed temperature for PLA: 70°
  • Heatbed temperature for PETG: 90°

If these settings didn’t do the trick, try the following:

  • Ensure the part cooling fan is off for the first 5 layers
    • PEI grips parts when heated and releases when cool. Some printers direct part cooling airflow directly onto the bed, which can cause the PEI to cool and release the part.
  • Slow down your first layer!
    • We recommend a first layer speed between 15 and 25mm/s depending on the complexity of your part.
  • Increase your nozzle temperatures
    • We recommend anywhere between 210-220 for PLA, and 230-245 for PETG

Smooth PEI Troubleshooting

If you’ve tried the above settings with no luck. There are a couple more steps you can take to improve adhesion on the Smooth PEI sheet.

  • Clean with dishwasher soap
    • While this sounds ridiculous, it genuinely works when IPA fails.
    • Clean the plate, however, DO NOT, submerge it in water.
  • Wipe down the surface with Acetone
    • This is a great method to refresh the adhesive properties of PEI
    • Only perform this task once a month, as long exposure to Acetone causes PEI to become brittle.
    • DO NOT use acetone on the textured sheet. This will immediately deteriorate the surface.