3D printing has come a long way since it first became accessible to the consumer market, and with this growth has come a wide range of accessories or upgrades designed to improve the performance of your 3D printer. These can range from a small nozzle to entire conversion kits, but one of the most popular upgrades is a new build surface. Wham Bam is a company that has made a name for themselves producing high-quality build surfaces for a wide range of 3D printers. In this post, we will take a look at some of the build surfaces and what makes them stand out.
About Wham Bam
Wham Bam was started by Peter Solomon, an inventor with many award-winning designs, when he started tinkering with 3D printers. He is well known within various Maker communities and forums for his contributions as a Maker eager to share advice and information. Over the years, he became obsessed with 3D printing and resolving first layer adhesion issues, which is something that can impact any 3D printer. It was during this time that the first Wham Bam prototype was created, and when it was shared on social media, the desire for such a build surface was clearly evident.
Wham Bam build surfaces come as either a pre-installed surface on a flexible spring steel sheet or as a powder coated surface that coats a flexible spring steel sheet. The build surfaces offer two core advantages over the stock build surface that comes with your 3D printer. Firstly, the high-quality build surface means that no matter what Wham Bam surface you choose, it will offer incredible first layer adhesion, which is crucial for a successful print. The second benefit is the flexibility of the build surfaces that allow you to easily remove prints by flexing the build surface and popping off the print. Wham Bam beds are also compatible with the stock magnetic sheet on your printer, provided your printer came with one. Otherwise, installing a Wham Bam magnetic sheet will provide the secure hold on the surface that you need during printing.
Since the release of the first Wham Bam product, the range has grown massively to include various types and sizes, making their products widely compatible with 3D printers from various brands. Recently, they have also expanded their offering to include products such as tool changers, enclosures, spill mats, and more. Now that we know a bit about Wham Bam, let’s take a look at their range of build surfaces.
Flexible Build Systems
PEX Build Surface
PEX is a Wham Bam custom build surface. At first glance, it appears to be identical to the PEI you may be used to. However, it has properties that make it superior. A higher glass transition temperature and higher melt point make PEX a suitable surface for just about any filament. PEX is designed to resist the bonding you may get from PETG, making it a great upgrade if PETG is your filament of choice. The smooth surface also means your prints get a glassy bottom layer, as well as the ease of popping off the print you can expect from all Wham Bam build surfaces.
Powder Coated PEI Flexi Plate
Powder coated PEI flexi plates are build surfaces that have been treated and coated in Ultem PEI and then baked in a kiln to permanently set into the flexible build plate. These plates are double-sided, which means you get double the amount of build surface compared to single-sided products such as the PEX plates. You can flip the plate over if one side gets damaged, or if you like to experiment, you can keep one side clean and the other side for running tests. Instead of a smooth print surface, the powder coated PEI is a heavily textured surface that will provide plenty bed adhesion for your prints and a nicely textured pattern on the base of your models.
PEI Build Surface
The Wham Bam PEI build surface is the more traditional form factor for PEI. It offers a smooth surface and is paired with a Wham Bam flexi plate, meaning it’s much easier to remove prints. PEI has a high temperature resistance, so most filaments will adhere well to it. It is important to note that, just like any other PEI bed, if you are printing with high-temperature filament that has a similar molecular structure, such as PETG, then it can stick strongly to the surface and be harder to remove.
PC Build Surface
Polycarbinate (PC) has become the go-to standard for most 3D printer manufacturers to ship with their printers. It is a great build surface for beginners as it offers great bed adhesion and is more forgiving of poor bed levelling. Due to its lower melting temperature compared to other build surfaces, it is recommended to use PC with PLA and TPU, as high-temperature filament may fuse to the surface. These build surfaces have a slight texture to help adhesion and will leave your print with a slightly textured base.
Carbon Fiber on Flexi Plate – Coming Soon
Wham Bam is always looking to expand their range of build surfaces. The latest addition is the Carbon Fiber range, which is being released in the coming months. This specially formulated carbon fiber composite offers advantages that you will not get with traditional build surfaces. Due to being a thermoset polymer, the carbon fiber is cured through chemical reaction instead of heat and cannot be reformed by heat. The result is a surface that is nearly impervious to damage and that doesn’t excessively bond with filaments. Due to these characteristics, almost all filaments can be used with carbon fiber without worrying about damage to the build surface.
Keep an eye on our socials and website to see when we will be getting stock.
Conclusion
Wham Bam have already managed to make a name for themselves in the world of 3D printing and continue to expand their range to accommodate even more 3D printers. Whether you are a beginner just looking for a simple build surface upgrade or a professional looking for a build surface that works with exotic filaments, Wham Bam likely has something for you. We have upgraded most of our office 3D printers with Wham Bam, and they have handled everything we have thrown at them. If you are looking to get your hands on a Wham Bam build surface, then check out our website.
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Graphic Designer | Photographer | Gamer and Twitch streamer.
I have a passion for design and a love of art. I am always eager to learn new things, be it 3D modeling/3D printing, copywriting or even cooking. Pretty chill guy who is always down for a braai with family and friends.