Prusa Enclosure with some mods
I decided to build the Prusa design of enclosure based on IKEA Lack. There were couple of things that I just did not like, it comes from the good will to have it simple, fast and available for every one.
1) The idea with a Lack table with plexiglass is perfect, but why should the printer stand on the lack table? It could stand on much better and more stable place and can be just coverred with the Lack table with plexiglass. It is easy, just mount the plastic parts to your standing place or shell or table.
2) Lenght of power source cables is just to short to place the power supply anywhere else, there is no place for even small move. I had to replace for a bit longer ones (be carefull, quite high current is going through, leave it to somebody whow knows what to do).
3) LED light belt is perfect, but especially having the enclosure on higher place, it just shines to much to your eyes instead on to printer. Lets make some shielding part.
4) Thermometer and fire alarm, that is good idea, but maybe some better solution would be nicer. I just dediced to build a control board based on Arduino with Wifi module. This control board is connected to temperature sensor inside the box as well as to optical dust/smoke sensor. It h as got also its own OLED display showing actual inner temperature and dust density. Push button allows to switch the light on/off. There is also a buzzer, which starts to beep whenever the temperature or dust density goes over the programmed level. Through the wifi module I can control the light and read the data through the Octoprint plugin (in this case I made my own). Wifi plugin also sends me an email whenever alarms starts. Sure, everything "nicely" packed into the printed box.
5) Camera, sure, I just made a holder to be srewed on the lack leg for Logitech C270. This goes directly to Octoprint on Raspberry PI (that was my standing solution before I started on the enclosure and control. I did not want to integrate this to Raspberry directly. This is completely independend, I can put down the lack table and print as before.
If you are interested about the result, see the folowing pictures:
RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
Nicely done. Although I would always prefer to have real fire/smoke-alarm instead of self-made. All the notifications you would get with the current solution will not help you, if you're asleep. It will also fail in case of power outage.
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RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
You are right, but this is more for the time I am not at home. There is a fire alarm in my flat as well, so sooner or later when the smoke comes out of the enclosure, it starts as well. The beeping is also quite audible. Power outage is covered by UPS, main systems are connected (router, switch, PC, raspberry and printer). Sure in case of printer, it is just for a couple of minutes at best, moreless to stabilize.
RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
I saw a suggestion recently regarding those hard-wired fire alarms - I haven't verified it yet but someone said the ones that are meant to be chained together and all go off if one alarms have a 9vAC control signal; that's relatively easy to adapt as a logic input on a micro or other. I don't run prints when away from home or asleep, but if I get to that stage I'll likely use one of those with something to kill power (Latching relay?) if the alarm goes off.
RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
The advantage of this control system (light, temperature, smoke) is, that it did not cost more then 10-15$ (not considering the working time). It does exactly what I need including remote control. I think, that there is a bigger chance that the power supply takes fire, than the printer inside the box. Maybe you did not mention the "ball in the basket" above the printer box. That is the fire extinguisher. In the central part of the flat, in the middle of all bed rooms there is standard fire alarm (simple, similar to what Prusa placed in the enclosure). If I am at home, I think I can simply detect and get away. If I am not at home, I will receive the email warning soon enough, can check the camera. If everything in my home is offline, that is also a kind of warning. The central MCB is in the public corridor, so I can just call to any neighbour to switch it off. And for the worst case, the insurance is also good thing 🙂
But sure, if I am printing while away, I check the camera every hour to be sure someting is not going very wrong.
Milos
RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
It's worth noting that some insurances will void coverage if they find the fire was caused by a 3d printer (or won't cover you at all...) Best you confirm and make sure before it's too late...
RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
I doubt that somebody in our insurance companies even realized, that the 3D printers exists. It will take some more time till the torch is replaced with 3D printer in the general conditions of insurance... 😉
RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
I doubt that somebody in our insurance companies even realized, that the 3D printers exists. It will take some more time till the torch is replaced with 3D printer in the general conditions of insurance... 😉
I'd still get something in writing, it's an easy out for them to decline having to pay...
RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
I recall reading somewhere that a finding that non-listed (no UL tag) power supply in use could result in declined coverage. Whether it had to be the source of the fire or not I don't recall. Definitely worth checking into.
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RE: Prusa Enclosure with some mods
With this I have an advantage being from Czechia. I bought the product here, manufacturer is from here and it should definitely fullfil all local standards and regulations. There should be a CE mark on it, not sure, but should be 🙂