WIP Heated Enclosure for 3d printer

[GRB352]

Some pictures of an enclosure I am working on. 

https://plus.google.com/…/1083899…/album/6494650123112508305

 

 

Now that I have a working acetone chamber large enough for big prints, it turns out I need a heated chamber If I want to produce full build volume abs prints. I've made very large ABS prints before without much of an issue, but for my largest lamp shades and busts I am having splitting problems. Originally, I wanted to just add a couple panels to the outside of the printer (like the one at HS). But the materials I had on hand(3/4" wood this enclosure is made from) would make the printer too heavy to move. So I figured I would build this temporary enclosure and learn a few things until I can purchase some polyboard (aluminum coated plastic, expensive). I will probably use this box for something else once I do. If this was a permanent enclosure I would have removed the triangular box under the build plate.. large piece of glass was $2 @ local junkyard.

  

The plan is to isolate everything below the build plate and allow air to circulate through the box to keep the electronics and steppers from running at some temperature as the large section of enclosure. I will use more of the sample piece of trim shown in some of the photos to do the bulk of the sealing.

 

I need to do more work on the temperature control for top part of chamber. But if my makshift heating element doesn't work, I have an old hair drier that will get used. Also, lots more air circulation.

[GRB352]

Lots of progress on heated chamber: This door trim does a good job of sealing in the air, and pretty ups the sides of the box. I do need a better way to keep the glass shut:

 

The two power supplies were previously permanently attached to the frame and I got tired of dealing with them dangling every time I moved the printer in/out of box to make a change or measure something, so I added a quick connector (atx connectors). I also free'd up that wire pathway to be an air pathway,

 

  

My previous heating element couldn't cut the mustard, so I modified an old hair drier to act as a heater, I just cut off the handle, and replaced its switch with a SSD, and configured it as a second extruder. 

 

I also added more to the electronics area cooling. There were already to outflow air fans, one on each side of the base of the printer. I added an intake.

And expanded the outflow with my new, larger hole saw.

  

 

I used some of the same door trim stuff around the frame of the printer, to seal off the bottom electronics area from the hot part of the box:

  

A little more fan work, and added in the modified hair drier (SSD to extruder 2 port). There are two more fans up top that I failed to photo.

Lots of finicky measurements had to come out right for this part to work. The bottom part, goes outside the box, and is cut to the height where the glass will fit. The top part is a diff width because it goes inside the box, unlike the bottom part. Its height has to line up just under part of the build plate so the rest fits snug. Since this part is right up front, I even mitered the edge. The hole is for the LCD wires.

  

This setup works pretty well, but the hair drier only seems to be able to handle 45C or so and keep it steady. I have upgrade the heater:

[GRB352]

I used a hacksaw for this mod, it it is definitely a hack. I am maintaining 60C no problem.

 

 

  

 

 

[Daniel Crews]

Looks pretty nice. I'm interested to see what it does for your prints.

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Fin

[Robert Burns]

Here is a pretty good showing of "test enclosure 1" in action. Towards the end it shows the prototype for the hot air diffusion ducting.  The duct-work will allow me to use less space to diffuse the hot air and use a proper chamber design instead of a giant box.

https://youtu.be/eT8aRvWZZqU

The prints shown in the video would definitely split if ABS was used without the controlled environment

I am working on a better enclosure now, starting with my smallest delta so it is easier to transport to shows and events.