A silicone heater pad (also called a silicone rubber heater, rubber heater, or heating pad) is one of the most popular upgrades for a 3D printer heated bed / build plate. It is thin, flexible, and designed to bond tightly to a metal plate (typically aluminum) for fast heat transfer and stable bed temperature.
At Lankeda, we produce a full range of standard and custom silicone heaters, with a strong focus on large-format 3D printers, especially 300×300mm, 500×500mm, 600×600mm, and 1000×1000mm etc. big size build plates.
1) What Is a Silicone Rubber Heater?
A silicone rubber heater generates heat through resistance heating. When electricity flows through the heating element embedded inside the silicone rubber, electrical energy is converted into heat. Because the heater is flexible and thin, it can be bonded or clamped tightly to an aluminum or metal bed plate for efficient heat transfer.
Common Heater Constructions
Wire-Wound Heaters
Wire-wound silicone heaters use resistance wire (such as NiCr) arranged in a heating pattern and encapsulated in silicone rubber. They are:
Durable and reliable
Cost-effective for custom builds
Suitable for most heated bed designs, especially when flexibility in size/shape is required
Etched Foil Heaters
Etched foil silicone heaters use a metal foil circuit (etched into a specific pattern) to create heat. They offer:
Excellent temperature uniformity
More precise heating layouts
Strong repeatability for high-volume production
Which One Should You Choose?
In practice, the best option depends on cost, efficiency, design flexibility, and quantity:
For custom heaters with smaller quantities, we typically recommend wire-wound heaters because they provide a great balance of cost + flexibility for non-standard sizes, cutouts, and fast customization.
For large-quantity projects, etched foil heaters are often the better choice due to their high consistency, precision, and scalability in mass production.
If you tell us your build plate size, target temperature, and expected order volume, we can suggest the most suitable construction for your project.
2) Built for Large-Format 3D Printers (Our Most Common Sizes)
We manufacture silicone heater pads for many sizes, and we frequently supply large heated beds such as: 300×300 mm, 500×500 mm, 600×600 mm, 1000×1000 mm
Custom sizes and shapes are available (most orders are customized).
We can also support very small heaters (100*100mm or a few millimeters) and extra-large heaters (1000*2000mm or more), depending on design requirements.
3) Voltage Options (Full Range Available)
We can manufacture silicone heaters in:
5V / 12V / 24V / 36V / 48V / 110V / 120V / 220V / 230V / 380V etc.
For 3D printer heated beds, the most common voltages are:
12V / 24V / 110V / 120V / 220V / 230V
For large-format beds (500×500 / 600×600 / 1000×1000), customers most commonly choose:
220V / 230V
This helps deliver higher power more efficiently (with lower current compared to low-voltage systems), making it a practical option for big build plates.
4) Silicone Material Options (Standard vs. Arlon Silicone)
Silicone heater pads can be made with different silicone rubber materials. The right choice depends on budget, performance needs, and heater size.
Standard Silicone Rubber (High Value, Cost-Effective):
Typically smooth surface
Commonly supplied in orange (black is also available)
Lower cost, great price-performance ratio
Widely used for general heated bed applications
Imported Arlon Silicone (Premium Performance)
Made with U.S.-imported Arlon silicone material
Better overall performance for demanding applications
Today, many customers, especially for large-format printers, prefer Arlon silicone for big build plates
If you tell us your size, target temperature, and usage conditions, we can recommend the most suitable silicone material option.
5) Why Silicone Heater Pads Are Ideal for 3D Printer Build Plates
Silicone heater pads are widely used in 3D printers because they offer:
Fast heat-up with stable temperature control
Excellent surface contact when bonded to aluminum build plates
Uniform heating (with properly designed heating layouts)
Flexible customization: size, shape, holes, wiring, sensors, adhesive, and connectors
Easy installation with adhesive backing
6) Standard Configuration (What You Get by Default)
6.1 3M Adhesive Backing for Easy Mounting
All heater pads can be supplied with 3M adhesive backing for excellent and convenient installation onto your build plate.
Default adhesive: 3M 468MP, long-term temperature resistance: 149°C
Optional upgrade: German Lohmann adhesive, long-term temperature resistance: 200°C+ (depending on grade). Recommended for higher-temperature or heavy-duty applications
If you plan to run high bed temperatures for long durations, adhesive selection matters. We can recommend the best option for your target temperature and installation method.
6.2 Free Temperature Sensor Included (Unless You Specify Another Type)
A free NTC 100K thermistor is included by default:
NTC 100K (3950K, 1%) , included unless specified otherwise
Optional sensor types based on customer requirements:
PT100
PT1000
K-type thermocouple
Other sensor models (available upon request)
7) Optional Insulation Pad (Thermal Insulation for Better Efficiency)
For many heated bed setups, especially 500×500mm, 600×600mm, and 1000×1000mm, adding an insulation pad under the heater can improve real-world performance.
An insulation pad helps to:
Reduce heat loss downward
Improve heating efficiency and temperature stability
Potentially shorten heat-up time
Make it easier to reach higher bed temperatures with the same wattage
If you are building a large heated bed, tell us if you plan to use insulation, we can recommend a more accurate wattage and configuration.
8) Customization Options: Cutouts, Irregular Shapes, Wiring, and Connectors
8.1 Cutouts & Special Shapes
Holes for screws, bed mounts, cable routing, or airflow design
Irregular shapes to match unique bed geometry
8.2 Wire Length, Exit Direction & Cable Requirements
Default wire length: 1 meter
Wire length can be made shorter or longer
Wire exit position and routing direction can be customized for cleaner assembly
8.3 Terminals / Connectors (Per Customer Requirement)
We can add different types of terminals or connectors based on your needs, such as:
Bare wire ends
Crimp terminals (ring / fork / spade, etc.)
Plug connectors (customer-specified models)
Other connector types upon request
If you have a preferred connector standard, simply send a photo, part number, or drawing.
9) Tell Us Your Plate + Target Temperature, We Can Recommend Wattage
Not sure how many watts you need? That’s very common, especially for 500×500, 600×600, and 1000×1000 build plates.
Just tell us:
Build plate size (e.g., 500×500 / 600×600 / 1000×1000)
Plate material & thickness (aluminum thickness is helpful)
Target bed temperature (e.g., 100°C / 120°C)
Ambient temperature (room temp or cold environment)
Whether you use an insulation pad under the bed
Preferred voltage (large beds typically 220V/230V)
How fast you want to heat up (optional, but helpful)
Based on this, we can recommend:
Wattage (W)
A suitable heater layout (wire-wound vs. etched foil)
Silicone material option (standard vs. Arlon)
Sensor type and mounting method
Adhesive or mechanical fixing suggestion
10) Optional Safety Protection and Control
For higher-power or mains-voltage heated beds, safety and control are essential. We can support options such as:
Thermal protector (over-temperature protection)
Customized safety solutions depending on voltage and target temperature
Optional temperature control solutions for large heater setups upon request
For 220V/230V heaters, proper grounding and safe wiring practices are strongly recommended.
11) Quality Control: Tested Before Shipping
Each heater pad is tested multiple times under strict procedures. We only ship heaters that pass inspection.
If any issue occurs, you can contact us anytime, we support troubleshooting and after-sales assistance to keep your project running smoothly.
You don’t need to take any risk when choose to work with us.
12) Beyond 3D Printers (Other Applications Brief Overview)
While this page focuses on 3D printer build plates, silicone heaters are also used for:
Industrial equipment warming
Enclosures / anti-condensation heating
Containers, tanks, and pipelines
Lab and automation devices
If you have a non-3D-printer project, feel free to reach out we can still make it.
13) Request a Quote (Standard or Custom Silicone Heater Pad)
Lankeda carries a full range of standard and custom designed silicone heaters. Contact us if you need a special heater made.
To quote quickly, you are recommended to send:
Build plate size (e.g., 300×300mm / 500×500mm / 600×600mm / 1000×1000mm) or drawing
Voltage (V), large beds typically 220V/230V
Desired power (W) or target bed temperature
Sensor type (NTC 100K / PT100 / PT1000 / K-type / other)
Silicone material option (Standard / Arlon)
Adhesive choice (3M 468MP / Lohmann / no adhesive)
Insulation pad requirement (yes / no)
Wire length + wire exit direction
Connector/terminal type (photo or part number is helpful)
Quantity and lead time expectation
FAQ (3D Printer Focus)
Can you make holes and special shapes?
Yes. We can add cutouts and produce irregular shapes to match your bed plate design.
Do you include a thermistor?
Yes. A free NTC 100K (3950K, 1%) thermistor is included by default, unless you specify PT100 / PT1000 / K-type or another sensor.
Can you customize wire length and connectors?
Yes. Standard wire length is 1 meter, and we can make it shorter/longer. We also support different terminals/connectors based on customer requirements.
What silicone material options do you offer?
We offer standard silicone rubber (smooth surface, typically orange, black available) and imported Arlon silicone (premium performance, commonly chosen for large-format printers).
What adhesive do you use?
Default is 3M 468MP (long-term 149°C). Lohmann adhesive is available for higher temperature requirements.
Can you add an insulation pad?
Yes. An insulation pad can be added under the heater to reduce heat loss and improve heating efficiency.
Can you print our logo or specifications on the heater pad?
Yes. We can print your logo, heater specifications (such as voltage and wattage), or other custom markings on the silicone heater pad surface, based on your requirements (e.g., model number, batch code, warning text, or special notes).