IR heat lamp heated ABS build: (no replies)

As we all know, ABS warps on unheated plates. I tried it anyway (on tape), and got some warp.



I used a 250 watt IR lamp ($6 or so) and with it about 8 inches away from my thick aluminum plate it heated it to 90-100C.

My first print at 230C extrusion and using the lamp had minimal warp.



I got a filament jam though, and not sure why. Don't think that should happen at 230C at the 10-15mm/sec I was printing at, so maybe it was unrelated.

I tried again at 240C, just in case I had cold extrusion, and that didn't jam. I am getting a messed-up top layer though. I believe the heat from the lamp, combined with the hotter extrusion temp, is making it too stringy.



In conclusion - I think you can make this work in a pinch to print ABS, but it seems better to have the part stuck to a hot plate without the filament being heated to much as it is being deposited - which the lamp seems to do.

But if you wanted to try this, I would suggest using it to pre-heat the plate to 105C (checked by IR thermometer), then start printing, and remove the heat before you do the top layer.

Oh yeah, it is not really good to heat wood over 100C, so have a fire extinguisher nearby, and don't leave it unattended.