Which enclosure to buy?  

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

So the $30 is on top of the purchase price? I assume I can't just get the plans without buying a unit first?

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

@fuchsr

Sure you could get the plans only if you wanted.  That's for if you wanted to source the parts yourself.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Okay, now I see it on their website. I wish the acrylic was more reasonably priced. Seems like I’d be spending 6*$40 on that alone when the precut acrylic for the LACK enclosure from PrintedSolid is a total of $55. But still, I really like the looks of the aluminum frame…

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

I'm more of a buy something assembled kind of guy than a builder at this point.  I bought both the printers assembled.  The mmu which should be arriving today according to DHL would have also been an assembled thing if they offered it lol

I really like light kits in the boxomo  they are BRIGHT.   I also bought the ventilation kit for each in case I ever do ABS/ASA and have to contend with fumes. 

But I didn't see anyone mention the boxomo on this thread so I figured I'd throw it in there as an option for someone.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

@fuchsr

I have used Lack Tables for my enclosures to keep cost down.  I may go a different route when I move next summer (2022).  I plan to heat the enclosures so might go with wood for the insulation properties.  I need to put 2-3 printers high and 5-6 wide.  

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Where are you moving… Antarctica? 🙂

All my enclosures are LACK too but I keep looking at all these nice alternatives. In truth, if you add all up, plus value your own time a bit, the LACKs are not nearly as cheap as they are sometimes made out to be. But still, the idea of writing a check (or electronic equivalent) that is half or equal to the price of my printers makes me cringe.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

@fuchsr

No.  GA and my printers will be moved to my shed.  

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

https://www.amazon.com/Plexiglass-Magnets-3D-Printer-Enclosure/dp/B08P3W2RLD/

Anybody tried this?  Similar price as the PrintedSolid cuts, but tinted with magnets.

Tint, whatever.  Sourcing the magnets, helpful perhaps.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Quick question for those that went with the Prusa box.  How long did it take to print the parts?  I'll be waiting until May for the printer (MK3S+ and MMU2S) to arrive, but the enclosure should come by mid-April.  I have access to a friends printer, but I don't want to suck up a bunch of time.  Looking forward to getting started, at least in some fashion, hah.  

Thanks!

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Plan on 4 - 5 days to get it all.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

I bought a server case for my MK2 and it now houses my new MK3S+, the adjustable shelf should be ideal for mounting the MMU2+ spools when I get one.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

@bluecornnm

Awesome!  Thanks for the info.  

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Well, while I wait 9 weeks for my MK3S+ MMU2S, I bought a V1 Ender 3 in the meantime, to help print the Prusa Box.  Hope to have the box assembled and get some early printing mistakes out of the way early.  

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Not a ready made solution as such but I also bought a server rack quite cheaply second hand.  I got a tall one as I plan to add the MMU and spools into it.

Being quite large the heat bed isn't enough to bring the temperature up a bit for ABS so I added a 150W ceramic heat bulb like you use for reptiles with simple plug in thermostat and lined the removable back/sides with insulation and blocked off the air vents.  I only use the bulb for pre-heating as I find if left on the temperature is uneven and the back of the print gets too hot.

I added a heavier sheet of steel on the underside of the shelf and insulated it with fireproof expanding foam (not sure this was necessary). The power supply and control unit sits underneath, when the top is mid 30s the bottom half is over 10 Celsius lower/remains at room temperature.

I added a switch and printed manifold with bought ducting parts for the built in fans so I can extract out of a window once printing is finished before opening the door.  I mistakenly ordered 2 thermostats so also put the fans on one too but don't really use that feature.

My computer is not near the printer so I added a touch screen RPi running Octodash on top mainly for starting prints but I've found it handy for moving axis and setting temperatures without having to scroll through the menus.  The plug in thermostats are remote controlled so I can alter everything with the door closed.

I spent quite a bit of time finessing it but you could get a smaller one and pop a printer in it and some LED lights.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Thanks everyone for the responses and info. I spent a while looking for cheap secondhand server racks that ship to the US but couldn't find one, so I went with the prusa-box. Couple of questions for those who have it: the psu gets moved and cooled but the einsy stays where it is? Has it been getting hot? And are the instructions on the website out of order? How do you finish cable management before moving the psu? And how closely did you follow the website's raspi instructions?

Thanks again!

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Well, here is another one.  Have not heard anything about it.

http://www.panucatt.com/3D_Printing_enclosure_tarca_p/tarca-m.htm

$220 + $20 USA shipping.

Polycarbonate panels instead of acrylic, so should handle high heat better, and be easier to muck with if you need more holes.  Since it is just a t-slot frame, lots of opportunity to add stuff as needed.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

I built my own enclosure, based roughly on the Hall Precision SingleCell design.  It was a fun project to design and build, but if you don't have the time or inclination, the Hall enclosure looks pretty nice.  I think you will probably spend about the same amount building something similar.

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Awesome enclosure!!!!

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

Some really inspiring enclosures!  Maybe for my next printer, I’ll design and build myself.  

The other 3d printer was delivered and I set it up.  initially tests we’re looking great, but I eventually had to swap the ptfe tube to ensure it could take the petg heat.  So far, so good.  I’ve printed a couple prusa box parts And things look good.  

RE: Which enclosure to buy?

@jsw

Thanks. I'm definitely considering the 3D Upfitters box. What I like from the description:

1. Fan design draws air through the PSU and out the vent
2. Easy match with an air filter or exterior vent
3. Works with a stock Prusa

About the only negative I see is that it seems expensive for what it is.