Just finished my Prusa enclosure build, some thoughts
I just completed building my enclosure this past weekend, with the LED and filter add-ons. The build was by no means fast, and there were parts that were very frustrating, but that was just mostly because there were so many steps, not that I found anything particularly difficult. I will say that there were times when looking at the comments provided by others was the only way I could move past a step. Prusa really needs to have someone spend at least half a day each week reviewing builder comments and using them as errata to update their directions. Some of those comments are very old, completely valid and correct, and yet have still not been incorporated into the build instructions. If you want to be a customer-centric company, it is the small things like that which will tell people you are taking it seriously.
To Prusa's credit, the pictures are excellent, and without them this would be a hideously difficult build. The build manual instructions remind me of a radio company called Elecraft, who are known for being very thorough with their build instructions.
Also, once I figured out there was an add-on on printables for my 2KG spools, I didn't feel I lost any functionality.
Now that it's together, I'm quite happy . My MK4 is printing better in that more controlled environment, especially now that it's winter here, and the space I have the printer in can get cooler at night, which has caused some prints to pull from the bed.
It is definitely quieter in addition to the temperature stability in the enclosure.
I'm also quite pleased that their is a fire suppression add-on for the enclosure, and in all the discussions I've seen on fire suppression on here (admittedly, I am new) I never saw that. Great thing to have for piece of mind, so all in all this is very worth the effort and expense.
Cheers.
RE: Just finished my Prusa enclosure build, some thoughts
I've built 3 of them without issue. I thought the instructions were quite clear.
What steps were a problem?
RE: Just finished my Prusa enclosure build, some thoughts
Happy to hear all went well for you.
2C, step 5: Although it says the number of Zip Ties may vary, there is clearly one at the bottom of the picture that should be cut, but it is not circled. It should be circled, and it should be rewritten to read "there are at least 5 zip ties, but if you find more holding this cable bundle, sever them so you will be able to move the PSU over to the left side of the printer at the end of this step. You will reattach this cable bundle with the zip ties in your kit at a later time."
2C, Step 8: "Release two round head screws from the front side of the frame securing the PSU." should read "Remove two round head screws from the front side of the frame securing the PSU, which will cause the PSU to become loose and/or fall. Be sure to support the PSU when doing this." to be completely clear.
2C, Step 14: It should read, "mount the frame, and be prepared to slide the screws in the printer frame support towards the front of the printer to allow the two screws you removed in step 8 to be reattached. They should slide freely within the frame. If they do not, gently push them to center them and they will be movable". The current language "Move the printer frame support to the frame." is unclear.
These are just in the prep of the printer, but there are many more I could cite. I am an experienced builder of electronic kits, and a technical professional, and I was able to work through these, sometimes by examination of the parts, sometimes with the help of comments others had made. But for a kit with this many parts, the instructions should err on the side of the most literal descriptions possible to the point of annoyance, rather than leave anything to interpretation. The pictures are excellent, but even they will not tell the whole story. My experience clearly was not yours, so happy you avoided any annoyance. As I said, I love the enclosure, but the instructions can be improved.
Regards.