A textured PEI plate is the most popular build plate for Bambu Lab printers. Prints stick well while the plate is hot, then pop right off when it cools. Here is how to pick the right 257 mm plate and keep it working for a long time. We stock these plates at our shop in Brooklyn, NY.
Which printers take a 257 mm plate?
A 257 x 257 mm plate fits the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon (X1C), X1E, P1P, P1S and A1. The A1 mini has a smaller 180 mm bed, so it needs a smaller plate. Some newer models may fit too; email us your model and we will check before you buy.
Textured or smooth?
- Textured PEI gives the bottom of your print a matte, slightly grainy finish that hides small marks. It grips PLA, PETG, ABS and ASA well and is very forgiving. Most people should start here.
- Smooth PEI gives a glossy bottom. It grips harder, which some people like for PLA, but PETG can stick too well.
- Decorative PEI plates (stars, circles, gold and color-shift finishes) print a pattern onto the bottom layer. Fun for gifts, coasters and signs. See our 257 mm PEI build plates with patterns.
Our double-sided textured PEI plate has texture on both sides, so you get two surfaces in one plate.
How to use it
- Put the plate on the magnetic bed and line it up with the pins at the back.
- In Bambu Studio, choose "Textured PEI Plate" as the plate type, so the printer uses the right first-layer height.
- When the print is done, let the plate cool for a minute, lift it off and gently flex it. The print pops off.
PETG tip: use glue
PETG can bond so well to PEI that it pulls off bits of the coating. Spread a thin layer of PVP glue stick before printing PETG. It works as a release layer and protects the plate.
Cleaning and care
- Don't touch the print area. Oil from your fingers is the main cause of prints not sticking.
- Wash it. Every so often, wash the plate with warm water and a little dish soap, rinse and dry it. This removes oil and old glue.
- Wipe it. Between washes, wipe with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) on a lint-free cloth.
- Don't scrape hard. Flex the plate instead of prying prints off with a metal blade.
- Keep it flat. Store the plate flat, away from heat, so the spring steel doesn't bend.
When to replace it
Replace the plate when prints keep coming loose even after washing, or when the coating has worn or torn spots. Many makers keep a spare so the printer never waits.
3D Near You is a 3D printer supplies shop in Brooklyn, NY, with free US shipping. Find more build plates and bed adhesion supplies or Bambu Lab compatible parts.
Bambu Lab and its model names are trademarks of their owners. Our plates are compatible accessories, not made by or affiliated with Bambu Lab.