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Makergear M2 Platform Flatness Puzzle

2026-05-19

Machine Shop Science

The first layer of a short TPU chain (about which, more later) came out vanishingly thin in the middle and much too thick on the ends:

Makergear M2 – TPU first layer

So: let the platform cool, scrape off the wreckage, set the nozzle for Z=2.0 mm, and measure the actual gap at various spots across the platform.

Those results are the top set of measurements:

Makergear M2 – BuildTak flatness check

The bottom set of measurements came from a similar test a few days later, after pulling the BuildTak plate off, doing nothing other than scrutinizing it, reinstalling it, and successfully printing several TPU chains of varying design, none of which had any first-layer problems. The platform is slightly too high along the +Y and -Y edges (rear and front), with no bow worth mentioning.

My measurements are, perforce, done with a cold platform, for obvious reasons, and the TPU prints at 50 °C. I have the uneasy feeling the heater / BuildTak magnetic base can bow upward in the middle while it heats, then flatten out after a while at a stable temperature. The good news: it’s not permanently bent.

More study is needed, including thinwall boxes after letting the platform soak at 50 °C for varying times.

Comments

2 responses to “Makergear M2 Platform Flatness Puzzle”

2026-05-19

John Ferguson

I’m using the Wham-Bam magnetic system on mine. no problems and considerably less messing around than with the glass beds. I’m using the Bambu X1-c for everyday printing now but still use the M2 for light weight pla printing because of some reason it does that better.

I also use Bambu’s sticky stuff for all prints. I use to be able to get pla and petg to adhere to the tape beds without adhesive. and I may have become confused, but the bambu liquid adhesive works great and a bottle seems to last forever.

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2026-05-19

brentatedsblog

Mine seems to have a cylindrical bend, high in the middle along Y=0, lower to the right and left edges. Being less exacting than Ed, I just wave my hands at it as long as the prints stick.

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