Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
I’m endlessly flirting with getting a server rack as an enclosure. I’m budgeting about £100 for a basic enclosure and I can pick up a 12U one for around that (540mm wide, 600mm depth). A 9U could work but not sure if it’d be a bit too tight with concrete slab and foam pad in there - I don’t want the cables to be obstructed on a tall print. 450mm depth racks I think would be too tight?
Main reason for the rack is to keep my family’s grubby mitts of the printer, I only print PETG and PLA so airtight doesn’t matter much and I wouldn’t want it to get too hot for PLA so server enclosure seems like a good option (plus it’s probably a little more fire safe than IKEA furniture?)..
I don’t particularly like the smell and was trying to figure out what I’d need to hook up to the rack to vent it out the window. I imagine I’d need a ducting hose but no idea what I’d be attaching it to to draw the air out? I’m a complete noob at this stuff and don’t know what the correct terms to be googling are
Best Answer by mark:
What fan are you using btw? Again this is a topic I know little about but I’ve read if using a HEPA filter then you’d need a decent static pressure filter fan to be able to push/pull air through the filter. No idea what pressure the fan would need for 50cm x 50cm x 50cm enclosure, I saw a usb 5V noctua one that looked ok but unsure if it’s up to spec and I don’t have a way to power a 12v one
If you are asking me, I am exhausting outside. There is no filter. A filter will not catch VOC fumes. I repurposed a 5V wall wart from a router or switch. I probably have several more from bad routers / switches / shavers in various voltages. As described earlier, I run a 12V fan on 5V. It doesn't have to turn fast. I think it is a 140mm case fan, again something I repurposed.
Regards,
Mark
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
From what I’ve read, printing PLA shouldn’t lead to temperatures that’d affect the electrics, but I’ll keep the PSU outside the enclosure anyways. There’s two fan holes at the top so I suppose I could use one of them for cooling and attach an rack fan though would that be likely to have an effect on prints? I can’t imagine the metal of the enclosure would get particularly hot? Anybody with experience who can provide some advice/their experience?
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
I’d be open to an acrylic enclosure, but I haven’t found one or a way to source the cut acrylic in this price bracket. The tukkari ones look great but end up being a little pricey when you factor in shipping
RE:
These are a couple of different adapters from a computer fan to a US standard dryer vent hose. I use that to vent outside. I only run the 12V fan on 5V. That is enough to exhaust the fumes while not cooling the enclosure too much. The openscad files may be modified for other sizes.
Regards,
Mark
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
Here is a picture of the setup:
Regards,
Mark
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
Nice setup. Any cheaper alternatives to acrylic panels you could recommend which are still fire safe? I feel like pvc foam board could maybe be a cheap option?
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
I also found a “Hallan” and a Trotten metal cabinet on ikea which looks like it could fit the Prusa mini. I’d need to drill some cable holes and a vent hole, and add a glass door so doubt it’d end up much cheaper than a server cab
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/haellan-cabinet-white-50363729/
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/trotten-cabinet-with-sliding-doors-white-40474761/
RE:
Nice setup. Any cheaper alternatives to acrylic panels you could recommend which are still fire safe? I feel like pvc foam board could maybe be a cheap option?
Are you in the UK? I would not know material prices there. The Ikea Lack table and four pieces of acrylic are about $75 here in the US. I don't think any of them are really fireproof. I have a smoke detector in there that shuts off the power to the printer. It does trigger on a spaghetti monster if the filament starts burning on the heatblock. Wiring will be different in the UK, and parts may be different also, but the concept should work.
https://sites.google.com/view/smokedetectorpowershutoff/home
You should go into your profile and enter your location. They allow it to just be approximate. That would get you more useful help tailored to where you are. I guessed your location from the Ikea links.
Regards,
Mark
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
ah neat, I’ve updated my location to the UK. I’ll do a bit of digging to see if I can find a better price. All the places I saw over here seemed stupidly overpriced
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
ah neat, I’ve updated my location to the UK. I’ll do a bit of digging to see if I can find a better price. All the places I saw over here seemed stupidly overpriced
All you need is 2mm thick. This place:
https://www.cutmyplastic.co.uk/acrylic-sheet/clear/2mm/non-recycled/L410-W470/
has the size for a Lack table (410 X 470 mm) in 2mm for £7.11 plus shipping. That does not seem too bad, pretty comparable to prices in the US.
Regards,
Mark
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
Ah yeah they look quite good actually! Ideally I wouldn’t use the lack table as I’d prefer something less flammable material wise and aesthetically I prefer other designs hence my original interest in a server cab. I suppose 5-6 pieces of acrylic would do the same job and might be easier in terms of customising
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
What fan are you using btw? Again this is a topic I know little about but I’ve read if using a HEPA filter then you’d need a decent static pressure filter fan to be able to push/pull air through the filter. No idea what pressure the fan would need for 50cm x 50cm x 50cm enclosure, I saw a usb 5V noctua one that looked ok but unsure if it’s up to spec and I don’t have a way to power a 12v one
RE: Mini+ Enclosure Fan Advice
What fan are you using btw? Again this is a topic I know little about but I’ve read if using a HEPA filter then you’d need a decent static pressure filter fan to be able to push/pull air through the filter. No idea what pressure the fan would need for 50cm x 50cm x 50cm enclosure, I saw a usb 5V noctua one that looked ok but unsure if it’s up to spec and I don’t have a way to power a 12v one
If you are asking me, I am exhausting outside. There is no filter. A filter will not catch VOC fumes. I repurposed a 5V wall wart from a router or switch. I probably have several more from bad routers / switches / shavers in various voltages. As described earlier, I run a 12V fan on 5V. It doesn't have to turn fast. I think it is a 140mm case fan, again something I repurposed.
Regards,
Mark