Advice on heat for a farm setup.
Currently building up my mini farm with 8 printers that are to go in a shelving type enclosure.
2 on each shelf - vertically.
So my question is what sort of heat is to much in an enclosure and would I need to start looking into a passive intake and a fan extraction or would I get away with just some large hole cut outs per shelf with a dust cover.
My mk3s runs happy in a photography tent in the low 30's and I'm sure I heard the warmer it is to a certain extent the filament is happier. I just don't know what 8 mini's are going to produce when running together and I don't want to start cutting out holes and so on without removing them all .
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
The E3D V6 hotend is rated to 40C/104F ambient temps. At those temperatures, you can start to have filament feed issues, particularly with lower-temp PLA.
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He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
The E3D V6 hotend is rated to 40C/104F ambient temps. At those temperatures, you can start to have filament feed issues, particularly with lower-temp PLA.
So does that mean I would be better to have my filament spools on the outside of the enclosure because currently I've mounted some spool brackets internally and intended to keep them from outside elements like dust and lower temps.
Prusament PLA will be mainly what I intend to use.
Thank you for the response.
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
the only image I have showing the layout per shelf
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
So does that mean I would be better to have my filament spools on the outside of the enclosure because currently I've mounted some spool brackets internally and intended to keep them from outside elements like dust and lower temps.
It may not be that simple. If the filament heats up sufficiently, it can soften prematurely in the extruder or hotend. With the Mini bowden setup, extruder heat is usually less of an issue, but at higher temperatures, all bets are off. I don't have any experience with the Mini but wanted to point out that the hotend is air-cooled and does need to be able to get rid of heat. Airflow and temperature are important.
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
So does that mean I would be better to have my filament spools on the outside of the enclosure because currently I've mounted some spool brackets internally and intended to keep them from outside elements like dust and lower temps.
It may not be that simple. If the filament heats up sufficiently, it can soften prematurely in the extruder or hotend. With the Mini bowden setup, extruder heat is usually less of an issue, but at higher temperatures, all bets are off. I don't have any experience with the Mini but wanted to point out that the hotend is air-cooled and does need to be able to get rid of heat. Airflow and temperature are important.
I see what you mean now , so it does make sense to have some form of cleaner cool air to help disperse the hot air from around the hotend, especially with 8 running at once.
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
I don't see any doors in the picture, which is good if you're mostly printing PLA. With decent airflow I wouldn't be concerned about temperatures rising too much. If your enclosure had doors, that would be a different story.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
I don't see any doors in the picture, which is good if you're mostly printing PLA. With decent airflow I wouldn't be concerned about temperatures rising too much. If your enclosure had doors, that would be a different story.
I do plan to have some doors on the enclosure to help keep elements like dust and drafts as this will be in my garage and temps will drop down in the winter (UK) so moisture / condensation maybe come into play.
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
@brettg
I have doors on my enclosures too but I only close them for ABS and PC prints, or as dust protection when the printers are not working
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
@brettg
I rarely put my filament in the enclosure. I ruined one roll of PETG that became sticky to itself. I will not do that again. I also have a dehumifier in my new workshop.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
thanks guys taking all the advice you have given,#
I will just use the doors for when they're not running and hopefully with the doors open and airflow my filaments should be ok in their current locations as I'm limited on putting 8 spool externally, if I have any issues like you stated cwbullet I will have to just look at making alterations after.
I guess by having the doors open I wont have to worry about airflow and heat issues so saves on me having to install fans and vents.
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
@brettg
Keep us up to date on your progress and share your learning lessons. I am setting up a new farm. I have been using 15-18 printers in an apartment but will be moving back to my farm. My end goal is 20-30. How many are you planning?
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Advice on heat for a farm setup.
@brettg
Keep us up to date on your progress and share your learning lessons. I am setting up a new farm. I have been using 15-18 printers in an apartment but will be moving back to my farm. My end goal is 20-30. How many are you planning?
Yes I sure will , currently 8 mini's and one mk3s+ with the intentions of adding more at a later date if required.
Do you know what the running cost of say one mini per hour running PLA would average, Obviously its dependant on electricity rate costs.
Be nice to know in preparation for the wife moaning 🙂