I have been designing a new printer and am about to order the build plate. I was going to go with Aluminum but was wondering why not use stainless steel.
Cost most likely. Stainless is expensive and probably not necessary in the application. I am not familiar enough with the needs of a heated bed for 3d printers but thermal conductivity might be and issue as well. AL is a much better conductor of heat.
What Jason said... The concept behind them is to have a solid, accurate, efficient substrate to more evenly spread the heat from the pad. Stainless might qualify in 2 of the 3, but Al will be more efficient with the heat spreading.
oops, I thought he was talking about heat spreader, yes, heater, aluminum heat spreader on top of that, and a piece of boro on top of that.
