Inexpensive enclosure
I thought I'd share the news that I found a low cost, easy solution for enclosing Prusa printers!
The printer fits comfortably inside Ikea's 34 gallon Samla box, turned upside down, with a matching 15 gallon Samla box underneath. I cut holes using a hacksaw to run cables into the box.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90102971/
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00130129/
Total: USD $24. I didn't even have to pay for shipping since there's an Ikea store near me. 🙂
My solution doesn't leave enough room for the filament spool on top, but I don't like to put the filament on top anyway; I prefer to run the filament in through a small hole I drilled.
I've had trouble printing ABS until I put the printer in this enclosure. The room I print in has an ambient temperature between 19C and 24C, which is fine for PLA and PETG, but ABS cracks in that environment while printing even if it doesn't warp. In my enclosure, the ambient temperature is about 40C when the bed temperature is 105C. The higher ambient temperature seems to solve most of the problem, although I'm still seeing just a little cracking on large models (such as the fillenium malcon).
I probably ought to move the 12V power supply outside the enclosure. A cheap meat thermometer next to it tells me the outside of the power supply is up to 57C, which is fairly hot for a PSU, I think.
The enclosure is not sealed at all, yet it traps all the detectable odor of melted ABS and significantly reduces the printer noise.
Anyway, I just thought I'd share the good news!
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
Thanks for the info, if possible please post a photo of your setup.
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
Here's a grainy picture of my 3D printing workspace while printing white ABS. There's also a cheap Ikea lamp and a USB camera inside.
The filament guide I used is on Thingiverse, although it's a few millimeters too tall for this enclosure. Fortunately, it's PETG and it bends without complaint. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1773758
BTW, most of my filament is in Samla 6 gallon boxes with PVC mounted in the middle.
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
Nice work. I think I will do the same, thanks for sharing.
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
Two ikea tables stacked makes a really nice enclosure. The tables sell for $7.99.
Then add some plexiglass.
Here is an example without the plexiglass sides:
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
Jason: I definitely want to upgrade to that kind of setup, but plexiglass is expensive enough that I have to choose between plexiglass or more filament. Filament has won every time. 🙂
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
I've not tried this, but could you just plastic wrap (as in Saran or Glad) around the Ikea table legs when you need an enclosed chamber? Nice and clear, cheap and disposable, buy at just about any store. When you're done with that nasty ABS print, you can quickly go back to an open environment without the walls always getting in the way.
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
Toby: plastic wrap is not a bad idea. I'll consider it for the next workspace upgrade.
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
Those two Samla boxes are now on my shopping list for my next trip to Ikea. Just too simple and cheap not to try out.
Re: Inexpensive enclosure
My PSU is also 57 on the top outside shell inside the enclosure. This is whhile printing PETg for about a hour or so.
Bed at 85 and nozzle 230. Seems quite hot for a PSU.