DIY 3D Printer Enclosure: Take Control of Your Printing Environment
The use of Aluminum extrusions provide a sturdy and modular framework that makes assembling this enclosure a breeze. They're also readily available and affordable, making them a practical option for DIY projects. Best of all, the use of extrusions allows for ease of scaling this design to different sizes, making it adaptable to different printer sizes or printing requirements.
The modular nature of the extrusions also enables rapid modifications to the enclosure. For example, you can easily adjust the height or width of the enclosure to accommodate larger printers or other equipment. You can also add or remove sections of the extrusions to create additional access points or ventilation options. This flexibility ensures that you can customize the enclosure to suit your specific printing setup and requirements.
The heart of this enclosure is a 120mm PC fan that serves as a cost-effective way to move air and provide filtration. The fan mount is a 3-piece design that allows you to easily insert carbon filter sheets, ensuring that any fumes from 3D printing are filtered out before they reach the outside environment. The side panels of the enclosure are all the same size, allowing you to place the PC fan mount anywhere that suits your setup.
Another standout feature of this enclosure is the use of PVC foam core panels, which offer several advantages over more expensive options such as acrylic or plexiglass. Not only are PVC foam core panels more affordable, but they also provide increased insulation. This insulation could be due to the material properties of PVC foam core or the change in transparency compared to acrylic, but regardless, it helps to maintain a stable temperature within the enclosure.
Working with PVC foam core panels is also easier when it comes to cutting or drilling holes. The material is more forgiving and less prone to cracking, making it a user-friendly option for DIY projects. This ensures that you can easily customize the enclosure to suit your specific requirements without encountering challenges during assembly.
While this DIY 3D printer enclosure is designed specifically for 3D printing, it has multiple other applications as well. With the addition of the Enclosure Ducting Adapter, inline fans, fan controllers, and HEPA filters, you can use it as a propagation enclosure for plants, a fermentation enclosure for brewing or food processing, or even a proofing station for baking.