How to build a heated bed for under $5.00? I'll show you in this video! Since silicone heater pads are ridiculously expensive, even for standard size machines, I set out to develop a SIMPLE design that can be built for way cheaper - and what I came up with ticks all these boxes!
"Chronic HotBed" consists of nothing but a layer of aluminum foil kapton-taped to the underside of the glass build plate. For improved heat distripution across the surface, a piece of sheet metal (preferably aluminum) can be added over the kapton.
But don't get fooled by the simple and minimalist design! The actual fabrication of it, cutting the appropriate heater shape out of a blank aluminum layer after previously having calculated the correct trace width and length for an existing power supply, as well as measuring the exact resistance of your aluminum foil is harder than it seems.
I actually dedicated another entire video to the difficulties of designing it, so if you want to build a heated bed like this I recommend watching it first:
https://youtu.be/MpD2EWrJkOY
For measuring super low resistances using a standard multimeter I found this blog post which explains the process in great detail:
https://www.robotroom.com/Measuring-Low-Resistances.html
Here's some affiliate links* to parts I got for this printer:
5pcs A4988 stepper motor drivers: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Apv00b
Cheapy hotend kit: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_A217Gn
Arduino mega 2560: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_AnxG2B
Geeetech PLA filament: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBWmzfv
4010 turbine fan: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_AnUid9
100k NTC temperature sensor for heated bed: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_A9cOwJ
10m nylon coated fishing line: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_9HKabt
Keep in mind I got a few of these items during sale, so the total might well be above $50 now (especially with inflation)
* if you decide to purchase something through an affiliate link I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you :)
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