Bed clips with aluminum bed: how necessary?

[dramsey]

I just finally figured out a printing problem where an item printed near the top of my print bed wasn't getting a good first layer: the adhesion was so bad the filament would be dragged around by the head rather than sticking. I'd measure the clearance multiple times, washed and prepped the bed surface, and no joy.

I finally figured out what one of the binder clips securing the rear of the bed was touching the screws securing the X-axis rail on the bottom of the horizontal support. This would push the bed down slightly, leading to the adhesion problem.

Which got me to thinking: I always assumed the bed clips had perhaps two purposes: first, the keep the bed as flat as possible, and second, to keep the bed in place during rapid motion like the filling in of small areas.

Neither would seem to apply with this heavy MIC-6 aluminum plate I'm using. Can I safely print without bed clips?

[Jules]

Yep. i took mine off long ago. As long as the plate sits inside of the rubber bumpers, it ain't going anywhere.

[dramsey]

Good to know, Jules. Thanks!

[insta]

The plates I make tend to be very snug, too. If you tighten the screws holding the rubber bumpers down, you'll create a "snap-lock" that holds the plates firmly in place.

I still use the revE clips to hold down, but they're tiny and inconsequential.