Troubleshooting issues with the heat bed

There are different methods for generating heat for a build platform. The most common component used for a RepRap printer is a PCB bed. This is a printed circuit board, which has etched copper traces running throughout one side of the surface. This creates the heating element. On the other side is a silkscreen surface with hot zone warnings. This is the side that is used to print on. Some 3D printers, such as the RepRapPro Mendel, have a sheet of aluminum sandwiched between the PCB heat bed and the glass plate.

In this recipe, we'll look at solving some common issues with this system.

Getting ready

A basic set of tools is always useful. I would speculate that if you own a 3D printer, you at least have a small collection of tools. A multimeter should be added to this collection. The instrument's function for testing voltages and resistance will be invaluable for troubleshooting the electronic systems in your printer. To measure the heat sources...