Upgrading your Creality K1 or K1 Max with a graphite plate offers superior flatness, faster heat transfer, and excellent adhesion for high-temperature materials like ABS and polycarbonate. Unlike traditional glass or magnetic beds, graphite's unique thermal properties ensure consistent first layers across the entire build surface. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for safely removing the stock flexible platform, installing the graphite plate, and recalibrating your Z-offset to accommodate the new surface thickness. Proper surface preparation and bed mesh recalibration are essential for optimal results.
Graphite Bed Build Plate For K1 Series
TABLE OF CONTENTS
More Information (Discord) : https://discord.com/channels/1154500511777693819/1362745993614987304 (https://discord.gg/yqcckKwjSK)
K1 Series (K1 / K1C / K1SE): (AU: 220 - 240V):
For older kits that magnet did not comes assembled, newer kits have magnet/heater pre-installed.
If you wipe the graphite plate with alcohol or any liquid make sure that it is completely dry before gluing the heater and magnet!!! Graphite has pores and liquid will be trapped inside it and will make the glue bubble when heated.
I suggest gluing the magnet on a 100C hot bed (the last step of installation) to make sure the graphite is dry and it glues flat. This was tested couple time and worked great.
You can follow the stock replacement guide for the bed, but following below for wiring guide. Newer kits are shipping with after market SSR, you wish to use that, please print the SSR mount and follow wiring for after market mounting option.
Before installing I suggest printing the SSR mount that you can install on the rib right next to the motherboard:
"https://www.printables.com/model/1182750-k1-k1c-k1se-ssr-mount-for-bed-heater-upgrade"
And bed leveling knobs for M4 screws:
"https://www.printables.com/model/1182770-bed-leveling-knob-for-m4-screw-m4-nut"
The 500W AC heater has inbuilt 150C self-recovery overheat protection switch for safety.
It has 5 wires:
2 red wires = thermistor
2 white and 1 yellow wires to connect to either 220v or 110v:
220v: ignore the yellow wire and connect white wires only
110v: connect 2 white wire together to one terminal and the yellow wire to the other.
Wiring Guide:
- Ground Wiring (Wiring, require re-crimp one end to RV1.25-4) Use the one of back 2 build plate alignment to secure ground wiring with lock washer, you may need source slight longer fasteners if you're using lock washer. The Ground can wire to the power supply shared GND.
Software:
Thermistor type is NTC 3950 100K. in "printer.cfg" change the sensor_type to sensor_type: NTC 100K MGB18-104F39050L32 and do the pid calibration in the console: PID_CALIBRATE HEATER=heater_bed TARGET=100
K1 Max (K1 Max): (AU: 220 - 240V):
If you wipe the graphite plate with alcohol or any liquid make sure that it is completely dry before gluing the heater and magnet!!! Graphite has pores and liquid will be trapped inside it and will make the glue bubble when heated.
I suggest gluing the magnet on a 100C hot bed (the last step of installation) to make sure the graphite is dry and it glues flat. This was tested couple time and worked great.
Before installing I suggest printing bed leveling knobs for M4 screws:
"https://www.printables.com/model/1182770-bed-leveling-knob-for-m4-screw-m4-nut"
The 1000W AC heater has inbuilt 150C self-recovery overheat protection switch for safety.
It has 5 wires:
2 red wires = thermistor
2 white and 1 yellow wires to connect to either 220v or 110v:
220v: ignore the yellow wire and connect white wires only
110v: connect 2 white wire together to one terminal and the yellow wire to the other.
K1 Max already has an SSR so it is not included in the kit. Follow the pictures to connect it correctly.
Note: For K1 Max: Attach the grounding wire using the M3*6 flat-headed bolt from the bottom of the plate, it will be hidden under the heater. For K1: after installation ground one of the build plate alignment bolts or one of the mounting bolts (under the bed tray. there is pictures below).
Wiring Guide:
- Ground Wiring (Re-Use Stock Ground Wiring) Use the one of back 2 build plate alignment to secure ground wiring with lock washer, you may need source slight longer fasteners if you're using lock washer.
Software:
Thermistor type is NTC 3950 100K. in "printer.cfg" change the sensor_type to sensor_type: NTC 100K MGB18-104F39050L32 and do the pid calibration in the console: PID_CALIBRATE HEATER=heater_bed TARGET=100
Newer Board may be using newer thermistor "sensor_type: NTC 100K MGB18-104F39050L32 "
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