120V Heatbed
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About
- OSE Reasons for using a nichrome 120V bed are scalability and lower cost for large beds.
- Reason for DIY nichrome beds is clear for larger beds on the basis of cost.
- Significant testing is needed for a safe method. Fiberglass coated wire, insulated bed, clamp-on as opposed to double sided tape is preferred for higher temperature printing. For small beds, we can make whatever size we need.
Sourcing
Pad
- 400+ watt 8" beds do not exist - [1]. It is questionable whether this one has 500W on 120V - [2]. Closest is the Ultimaker clone - [3]
- 8" bed on amazon is $84. [4]
- 8" bed on Aliexpress is $45 - [5]
- Expensive 12" on amazon - [6]
- Silicone rubber sheet - to 450F - [7] - $6/sf
- 10x10" heatbed aliexpress 500W - $10 - [8]
- 200W 8x8, $13 - [9]
Silicone Rubber Sheet
Double Sided Tape
- $3/sf - [12]
Single Sided Tape
- Kapton tape, 4"x100ft - $25 - [13]
- Enough for 300 small beds (4"), or 33 12" beds.
Coated Nichrome Wire
- Need 30 Ohms of wire, about 10' long
- See Nichrome Wire
Uncoated Nichrome Wire
- Need 30 Ohm resistance for the length of wire at 120V to get 480W, for P=IV, V=IR, I=V/R -> P=V^2/R = 120^2/30 according to Electrical Power Calculator.
High Temp Nichrome in Fiberglass
- Claim of 1200C - [14]
Sleeving
Rope Heater
- Up to 500C - [17]. Description: helical winding around core material, then insulating sleeve.
Helical Nichrome Coil
- Can be stretched - [18]
Carbon Fiber
- Carbon fiber is also used as a heating wire - [19]. Interesting. But it appears it can only do 15W/meter? Why is it limited? Limitation appears to be encapsulating materials - [20]
Example of a DIY Nichrome Heater
- Idea is to wind Nichrome around an inner core, as otherwise, the heater element gets too long. That is just a practical consideration for these types of heaters if running high voltage.
- Here is 31 ga and 19 feet - for 90W - at 115V. [21]
- Here is another at 12V, with 16 gauge - 10' long, going up only to 225C. [22]
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