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The build plate is at the literal foundation of your 3D printer, and it can determine the success or failure of your prints more than any other feature. A single greasy fingerprint can be all it takes to turn a delicate model into a pile of spaghetti. And yet, we take the stock build plates that ship with our printers for granted, especially if we paid high dollar for the 3D printer itself.
🟦🟥 Stock Build Plates 🟥 🟦
Before we dive into aftermarket print surfaces, a word on stock plates. Every modern 3D printer we’ve reviewed since 2024 has come with a very usable build plate. Textured PEI flex plates have become somewhat standard, and that’s a good thing. If you’re buying a printer today, you may be quite happy with your stock plate. You may only need this list if your build surface has been scratched, worn down, or otherwise damaged.
3D printing has been constantly evolving, with new technologies emerging every year. My first printer had a rudimentary glass build plate held down with binder clips, but now I have a plate with my own logo embedded right in the center.