Enclosure comprehensive review
I received four enclosures, ordered within hours (or minutes) of them being announced. I have assembled them and they have been in use for a couple days now so I feel like I can at least give a review of everything so far in case there are questions or other people just want to know about it.
PRICE
Yes, it is expensive, much more expensive than using a IKEA Lack enclosure. Also more expensive than some other commercially available enclosures including the PrintedSolid next gen models (I have three of those, one for a MK3 and 2 for the MINI). The base model of this Prusa Enclosure seems very worth the price, especially considering the quality of the parts. I opted for the air filtration unit, LED light, and PSU connector on all of them, and none of that was included in this shipment so we will have to wait to see what those parts are like. But I'm guessing they'll be high-end just like the rest of the parts. I built a few enclosures too and I can definitely say that after the time it took to cut wood, drywall, sheet metal, assemble, and also purchase plexiglass panels locally that I probably spent nearly as much as I did on the Prusa Enclosures. To me, the time is the real cost savings here - I had them all built and installed in a day and that was awesome. If you are on the fence about the price, I honestly don't think you would be able to get a much better price at this level of quality. The IKEA solution is cheap, but you really cannot compare the two in terms of durability since the Lack table is basically hollow pressboard, and you still need to source the plexiglass panels (which are not cheap!)
PACKAGING
I posted some pictures on another thread of the packing. It is superior, just like everything Prusa does. There was little chance of anything getting scratched or dented. My only criticism is I wish they would use less or no non-recyclable foam and use cardboard exclusively (or compostable foam). They seem to have the custom-cut cardboard solution down tight so I think they will be able to make this change eventually. Where I am, none of the foam parts are accepted for recycling. And the bulk of the cardboard I shred or use for making compost lasagna in my garden. All of the small parts are in labeled bags. It's very nice. AND, there is a micro-size bag of Haribos (seriously not enough but that is for another post).
ASSEMBLY
Literally blown away at how accurate the parts are. Things line up perfectly. The holes are all perfect and you don't have to fight to get it together. The metal parts have some very sharp points but they mesh together when assembled and are a non-issue. The powder coating is similar to the frame on the MK3, very nice and thick. Looks beautiful, really. The side and rear clear panels are very thin but they work fine because the frame is really solid without them so they're not needed for rigidity. The clear panels have protective coatings that are very easily removed and do not introduce a ton of static electricity when removed, which is nice because a lot of plexiglass panels are crazy in that way. The black hardware (screws, nuts, etc.) are mostly of the glossy black variety, not the typical dull black, oily ones that seem to rust quickly. Time will tell but they look pretty good. Attaching the clear panels is super-easy using the plastic push-on rivets (they're really cool). Lots of extra hardware which is nice so you can do more add-ons later without having to source the same looking parts. I think it probably will take about 3 hours to assemble, maybe less. You would do well to have a 2.5mm hex driver instead of using the included L-wrench - it will save you a lot of time. Also maybe some microfiber cloths to keep things nice (though the clear panels do not seem to be marred by fingerprints very easily). The front doors are much thicker and work really nicely using the included magnets to keep shut.
IN USE
While the enclosures have lots of holes and seams all over, they do a great job keeping in heat and odors. I have been running Prusament ASA in all of them for a few days straight with no perceptible smell. And the internal temps are around 35ºC. I also have one running Prusament PC-CF and I think the parts are looking slightly better than when it was not in an enclosure. Super-happy overall with how they are performing. A little hard to see inside without the LED but apparently will only be a few weeks so that's cool.
CONCLUSION
I like them. I'm ordering 3 more today. There are a lot of benefits over anything else I've tried:
• They stack. I have all 4 stacked and they seem really secure. I used longer screws for the feet and they extend into the unit below. I did not put the pads on the feet. I am supposed to mount it to the wall so I need to make some bracket or piece of wood to do this.
• They're ready for upgrades. I look forward to getting the air filter and lighting. I look forward to seeing what they do with the smart box (though I'm guessing it'll be kind of like the JKTech smart enclosure system that Jure did many years ago - I got one of those and it is still awesome and running strong!)
AND SOME NOTES
• They make the printers louder than when I had them on cement pavers. There is no space for a paver in these enclosure without modification so I opted not use them. If you want to use them say, in your office, I would recommend not installing the foam aligners on the bottom and using an appropriately sized paver instead (may need a center support foot to keep the metal from bending).
• You need more space in the rear than I thought to install the PSU. While the PSU only extends out about 2 inches when installed, you need about 6 inches to get it into position. So if you have a stack of these you need to assemble, then put into place to avoid leaving so much space on the back.
• Print out and install the handles. I don't know why these were optional - they should not be because you need them in order to move this thing.
• The quality of the printed parts is just okay. The top layer is rough and it shows on many of the parts when assembled. There are currently no files available to print yourself except for the handles and spool holders so just FYI, if you want nicer or different color parts we have to wait or design ourselves. All of the parts are black except the orange feet.
That's all, thanks for reading. Happy printing 🙂
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Thanks for sharing - enjoy!
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Does the enclosure allow for raspberry pi installation?
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
There is not a specific place for an SBC, but there is plenty of space inside for one, and plenty of mounting holes too. I am not sure how Prusa intends to handle the smart box for this, I am assuming it will be RPi-based but maybe it'll be a custom Arduino or something.
There is a lot of space inside and tons of options for customization. There is definitely room for an entire MMU unit including space for 8 spools and the factory buffer unit. There's space for a spool in every corner and plenty of space above the MMU for the buffer. One would just have to make several of the factory-supplied spool holders along with some kind of bracket to hold the buffer. There are also lots of loops for zip ties.
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Thank you for your review... very comprehensive. I was wondering if you have any images of your enclosure you would be willing to share?
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Sorry friend, not able to take pictures of them at this point - they're already installed in an area of the facility where no cameras are allowed. But it looks like the images on the sales page, no changes that I can see.
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Ok no worries! Happy printing
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Hi ScoutStorm,
thanks for the comprehensive review. I'm glad to see our hard work paid off 🙂 I will print your review and glue it to the wall on the developer floor. Let me share some insights regarding the points mentioned above:
1) Foam - we are trying to get rid of it as much as possible, but there are some limits to the cardboard. The first designs of the packaging for enclosure were foamless, but sharp profiles were punching through and scratching each other during drop tests. However, this doesn't mean we will stop there 🙂 We are working closely with our partners and almost all products in our lineup got more eco-friendly packaging this year.
2) Materials - there were multiple iterations of all the parts used on the enclosure. Our aim was to create a rigid box, that will last. All metal parts including fasteners were tested in a chamber with salt mist. Corrosion shouldn't be an issue unless you are living in an extremely humid environment.
3) Add-ons - there is an ongoing worldwide shortage of almost anything if you want it in larger amounts. Once the purchase is made, the next adventure with finding a free shipping container starts. We have decided to ship the enclosures first, so you can use them. Our team is doing its best to have the add-ons ready soon. The extra shipping cost will be covered by us.
4) Handles - this was discussed multiple times during our meetings. During the long-term tests, I was visiting my colleagues, collecting overall feedback, and noticed that most of the enclosures stayed in one place from the very beginning. Adding handles to every package would require printing a lot of them and many might end up unused. The only exception was our dedicated testing department, where the enclosures were moving from place to place, but in the end, we realized a better solution was to create the quick-release power cable as most of the time they needed to remove the printer, not move the enclosure.
Happy printing 🙂
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Does the enclosure allow for raspberry pi installation?
The enclosure was designed to allow for multiple add-ons at once including filaments, tools, sheets, etc. There are mounting points everywhere, some might be occupied by the official add-ons (more on that soon), but the rest is yours to conquer 🙂
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
I wonder if you could put a mini in it or if they will make one for the mini.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Jakub, you honor me with your response. Thank you. It means a lot.
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
I wonder if you could put a mini in it or if they will make one for the mini.
I kinda feel like you of all people should know the answer to this considering you are the most active member...was your account hacked?
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Maybe. I think it will fit a Mini. My question is more had someone done it?
I wonder if you could put a mini in it or if they will make one for the mini.
I kinda feel like you of all people should know the answer to this considering you are the most active member...was your account hacked?
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Regarding MINI/MINI+: we also have a smaller enclosure in the works. 😉
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a couple for my MK3's.
One question though, is there any concern about the additional heat deforming the PETG parts which make up the MK3? Should we be reprinting our MK3's with ASA for use inside the enclosure?
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a couple for my MK3's.
One question though, is there any concern about the additional heat deforming the PETG parts which make up the MK3? Should we be reprinting our MK3's with ASA for use inside the enclosure?
So far, the chamber temp is topping out at around 37C and the factory PETG parts do not seem to be deforming at all, except the heat bed cable cover. On one of our MK3 we reprinted the parts in pc blend a while back and were generally happier with them more than the parts we re-printed in ASA. ASA doesn't seem to hold screws very well, it seems brittle compared to pc blend. But the parts that use nuts for the screws should be good in ASA. Where we had this issue is on the hot end parts where the extruder fan attaches without nuts. Those screw holes stripped easily in ASA but in pc blend they are holding up better.
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
The bed wiring cover is common to warp. I have also replaced them with PC-Blend or ASA printed versions.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a couple for my MK3's.
One question though, is there any concern about the additional heat deforming the PETG parts which make up the MK3? Should we be reprinting our MK3's with ASA for use inside the enclosure?
So far, the chamber temp is topping out at around 37C and the factory PETG parts do not seem to be deforming at all, except the heat bed cable cover. On one of our MK3 we reprinted the parts in pc blend a while back and were generally happier with them more than the parts we re-printed in ASA. ASA doesn't seem to hold screws very well, it seems brittle compared to pc blend. But the parts that use nuts for the screws should be good in ASA. Where we had this issue is on the hot end parts where the extruder fan attaches without nuts. Those screw holes stripped easily in ASA but in pc blend they are holding up better.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
Common as in it happend to you? Never read this and never had this, printing in enclosures for three years now.
BTW, refraining from full quotes is appreciated.
Chris
The bed wiring cover is common to warp.
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE:
Common as in it happened to you and how many others printing in enclosures? Never read this and never had this, printing in enclosures for three years now. Where have you read about this? Might have missed it... Never had any heat issues in the enclosure; the Einsy should fry before printed PTEG parts warp, I'd assume.
BTW, refraining from full quotes is appreciated.
Chris
The bed wiring cover is common to warp.
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Enclosure comprehensive review
You will see posts about. Most people just replace them. It has happened on all of my MK3S printers when printing ABS, ASA, or PC -Blend. It is because the part if horizontal and thin.
One suggestion, make sure your wires are clamped down on you bed tightly.
Common as in it happened to you and how many others printing in enclosures? Never read this and never had this, printing in enclosures for three years now. Where have you read about this? Might have missed it... Never had any heat issues in the enclosure; the Einsy should fry before printed PTEG parts warp, I'd assume.
BTW, refraining from full quotes is appreciated.
Chris
The bed wiring cover is common to warp.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog