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I know this depends on the type and quality of the mat, what materials you use (how hot it gets), and how well you treat it. But in general, how long should a build mat last?

For context: I've had a Monoprice Maker Select Plus since August of 2018. The printer came with 3 mats, and I've used all of them. I also purchased a replacement, which I used, and a further 3-pack, of which I am today installing the second item. So this printer, in 7 years and 924 print jobs (I keep a log), is now starting it's 6th mat.

These are stick-on mats, rather than using magnets or binder clips, and changing them out (removing the adhesive from the heated plate) is not fun. Therefore I'd like to get a sense of whether this is normal, am I ahead of the game? Behind?

If this printer lasts past my existing mat stock (it's on pace to be nearly 10 years old by then) I'll probably use binder clips next time to avoid this trouble in the future — though I'm sure that has its own issues. But so the question is more broadly applicable, I'm interested in the general expected lifespan of a build mat, at least as a rule of thumb.

Joel Coehoorn
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This is one of those situations where it's not really possible to give a general answer that applies to all mats, as there are so many variables involved. For example, if you always print in the exact center of the mat it will wear out 4 times faster than if you print in each corner consecutively.

The primary factor will be the quality of the mat themselves, a cheap mat will usually wear out faster than an expensive one.

If you check the specifications, the higher quality mats will usually have some kind of indication of how many hours\prints they are good for. It varies considerably.

Aaargh Zombies
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