Today's topic is all about bed mounts.  Should you use a spring? What about these  
Today's topic is all about bed mounts.  Should you use a spring? What about these  

upgraded orange springs about these silicone bed  mounts? What about these solid aluminum ones?  
upgraded orange springs about these silicone bed  mounts? What about these solid aluminum ones?  

This topic in particular only applies if you're  using an auto bed leveler. I have used all of  
This topic in particular only applies if you're  using an auto bed leveler. I have used all of  

these and have drawn some conclusions about  all of them in my testing. There's a reason why  
these and have drawn some conclusions about  all of them in my testing. There's a reason why  

I am still using these special orange spring ones. Now, when you're using an auto bed leveler, your  
I am still using these special orange spring ones. Now, when you're using an auto bed leveler, your  

first thought might be to move over to a solid  bed mount because you don't need to adjust the bed  
first thought might be to move over to a solid  bed mount because you don't need to adjust the bed  

nearly as much as you did before when  you used an end stop. There is a problem  
nearly as much as you did before when  you used an end stop. There is a problem  

with the various ways in which you  can mount your bed solidly with these.  
with the various ways in which you  can mount your bed solidly with these.  

We're going to start off with probably one  of the more easily accessible options, these  
We're going to start off with probably one  of the more easily accessible options, these  

silicone ones. Now, these are nice and solid and  they have a little bit of squish to them. If you  
silicone ones. Now, these are nice and solid and  they have a little bit of squish to them. If you  

need to make some very minute adjustments, that is  great because they allow you to do that. However,  
need to make some very minute adjustments, that is  great because they allow you to do that. However,  

the problem is, once they get squished and  stay in a squished position for a while,  
the problem is, once they get squished and  stay in a squished position for a while,  

they no longer retain any of that memory or  elasticity to bounce back to its original  
they no longer retain any of that memory or  elasticity to bounce back to its original  

shape. You'll actually notice the shape of these  silicone bed mounts are actually mushroomed. 
shape. You'll actually notice the shape of these  silicone bed mounts are actually mushroomed. 

That's a problem because you're going to  lose the level of your bed constantly.  
That's a problem because you're going to  lose the level of your bed constantly.  

That's a pain in the butt because you bought  something solid so that the bed wouldn't change  
That's a pain in the butt because you bought  something solid so that the bed wouldn't change  

its position and here you are with a solid  bed mount that is fact-changing position.  
its position and here you are with a solid  bed mount that is fact-changing position.  

That a little bit of adjustment that you get from  these is great initially, but in the long run,  
That a little bit of adjustment that you get from  these is great initially, but in the long run,  

it is a pain in the butt. You'll have to re-level  your bed all the time, way more, in fact,  
it is a pain in the butt. You'll have to re-level  your bed all the time, way more, in fact,  

than with the springs and  there's a reason for that. 
than with the springs and  there's a reason for that. 

Unlike these solid silicone bed mounts that  once you squish, they eventually just stay  
Unlike these solid silicone bed mounts that  once you squish, they eventually just stay  

in that position and don't bounce back, these  springs do in fact apply force going outward,  
in that position and don't bounce back, these  springs do in fact apply force going outward,  

which puts pressure on this wheel onto the  threads. That holds the wheel in place.  
which puts pressure on this wheel onto the  threads. That holds the wheel in place.  

If you don't have that pressure pushing  the bed away from the Y-axis gantry here,  
If you don't have that pressure pushing  the bed away from the Y-axis gantry here,  

what's going to happen is as your print  goes on and you move back and forth,  
what's going to happen is as your print  goes on and you move back and forth,  

your wheels are going to slowly start  to unturn themselves just a little bit. 
your wheels are going to slowly start  to unturn themselves just a little bit. 

As you may know, with your first layer, even  fractions of a millimeter make a huge difference.  
As you may know, with your first layer, even  fractions of a millimeter make a huge difference.  

That's why these silicone bed mounts are just not  worth it in my opinion. The next thing you might  
That's why these silicone bed mounts are just not  worth it in my opinion. The next thing you might  

think is let's try some actual solid bed mounts.  These ones are made from solid aluminum and yes,  
think is let's try some actual solid bed mounts.  These ones are made from solid aluminum and yes,  

I've tested them on my digital calipers  and every single one of them was within  
I've tested them on my digital calipers  and every single one of them was within  

the correct measurements to a few hundredths  of a millimeter, which is perfect, in theory. 
the correct measurements to a few hundredths  of a millimeter, which is perfect, in theory. 

In practice, once you put all of these  in place what you're going to find  
In practice, once you put all of these  in place what you're going to find  

is that even though these are evenly spaced,  the gantry itself, your Y-axis gantry here  
is that even though these are evenly spaced,  the gantry itself, your Y-axis gantry here  

then moves back and forth. That's not going  to be flat. One of the corners, I should say,  
then moves back and forth. That's not going  to be flat. One of the corners, I should say,  

it's probably going to be a little lower than  the other. It's not really intended to be as flat  
it's probably going to be a little lower than  the other. It's not really intended to be as flat  

as your hot plate. Because of that, you  will need shims. I'm talking shims that  
as your hot plate. Because of that, you  will need shims. I'm talking shims that  

are 0.1-millimeter in thickness at the most. You will have to dial it in your level with  
are 0.1-millimeter in thickness at the most. You will have to dial it in your level with  

those shims. In theory, once you get that taken  care of, it will never change again because these  
those shims. In theory, once you get that taken  care of, it will never change again because these  

don't have any play. They don't squish, they  don't change shape. They don't do any of that.  
don't have any play. They don't squish, they  don't change shape. They don't do any of that.  

In theory, that's a good idea but it is a pain in  the butt until you get those shims. I've actually  
In theory, that's a good idea but it is a pain in  the butt until you get those shims. I've actually  

been waiting on some shims for about three  months now from AliExpress suffice it to say,  
been waiting on some shims for about three  months now from AliExpress suffice it to say,  

I don't think they're actually going to make it. What I have found is the most reliable and sturdy  
I don't think they're actually going to make it. What I have found is the most reliable and sturdy  

connection is still the orange upgraded spring  that you find pretty much everywhere. It keeps  
connection is still the orange upgraded spring  that you find pretty much everywhere. It keeps  

things in a pretty solidified manner. It keeps the  beds positioning that you level out. Pretty good.  
things in a pretty solidified manner. It keeps the  beds positioning that you level out. Pretty good.  

You might have some minor adjustments here and  there, but it's relatively consistent and they're  
You might have some minor adjustments here and  there, but it's relatively consistent and they're  

cheap. They're easy to get, they're plentiful. Of all the mounting options that I have tried,  
cheap. They're easy to get, they're plentiful. Of all the mounting options that I have tried,  

the orange aftermarket upgrade spring that  everyone gets anyway still seems to be the  
the orange aftermarket upgrade spring that  everyone gets anyway still seems to be the  

most reliable and easily tuneable option that you  can get. There's my two cents. I hope that helps.
most reliable and easily tuneable option that you  can get. There's my two cents. I hope that helps.