Replicator 5th gen acrylic enclosure?

[Jonathan Fontanez]

I've noticed images for the replicator 2 show an acrylic window for all of the side openings as opposed to the replicator 5th gen which has an open air design (seems like a step backwards?). I was wondering if anyone has experimented with adding acrylic windows on the 5th gen? 

I currently own a replicator 5th gen and notice that it is prone to collecting dust inside (black paint job definitely shows it off) and influenced pretty easily from fans and A/C. I would imagine that having it sealed off would help both. 

If there hasn't been any progress in this, would anyone else be interested in working on a bolt on acrylic enclosure kit?

[Jetguy]

You don't need windows for a PLA only printer. In fact, you have it wrong, the 2X which quite opposite, it a printer designed SPECIFICALLY for ABS does need doors and windows and a cover.

If anything, I have to remove them on the mini go get mine to print reliably.

[Jonathan Fontanez]

Understandable that it's not required for a PLA printer, however I'd like to seal it off. I am using it in a home office and I would imagine that enclosing it would help reduce any influence from an external draft (usually when the A/C starts up there is blast of air through the system, notice it seems to have some impact on prints since I live in a very hot state and turning off A/C isn't an option during summer months). Also I noticed many of the acrylic windows help act as dust enclosures (reducing dust out and also dust in). 

I don't know how it would influence the temperature within the replicator if it were sealed off (I could imagine it would potentially warm up and depending on humidty cause warping?), however I imagine a small exhaust fan could help out? 

[Elbot]

dude, listen to jetguy, drafts are GOOD for pla. You want cooler temps for the 5th gen pla printers. or you'll get jams.

[Jetguy]

Fee free to  try whatever you want. I'm not saying you cannot do it or whatever. The mini came with them.

To date, I haven't seen anything aftermarket for the 5th gens and since the Z18 is the enclosed bot, probably MakerBot would rather see you blow $6k and buy a new model rather than sell a retrofit kit for the Mid sized 5th gen Replicator.

On Saturday, July 5, 2014 9:03:55 PM UTC-4, Jonathan Fontanez wrote:

[Ryan Carlyle]

Strictly speaking, PLA works best when it is warm on the build plate and cool above the hot end. But the latter is the more critical constraint. Failure to keep the cooling bar cold enough causes jams. Whereas drafts/coldness on the print just causes warping, which is generally more manageable.

It's a bit of a balancing act. The common belief that "ABS needs to be hot and PLA needs to be cold" is a useful rule of thumb but definitely an over-simplification.

[lassi kinnunen]

if it stays glassy too long after printing you will have it curl up at the corners of roofs and hitting the hot end.. so generally, the more of a windtunnel you get the thing into the better... I guess mini has windows so that you don't put your fingers into there.

-lassi

[Deans]

We have a 5th Gen in a public space so we had to close it up so little hands weren't constantly reaching in. We just got a local plastics supplier to bend a sheet of acrylic for us that we basically just use as a shroud around the front and sides of the printer. It just slides on and off and isn't secured by any means.

It hasn't seemed to affect our prints at all. No warping, no peeling AND...... we've only had to have ONE extruder replaced so far!

[Graham Perkins]

Can you post pictures of what you had made for you? Does it absorb/dampen the noise at all?

[Deans]

I'll post a picture a little later when I have a chance to snap one. It definitely does not dampen the sound though.

[Deans]

Sorry this took longer than I expected. Hope I attached these properly... As you can see, all this does is cover the front and sides to prevent people from reaching in while the printer is going. The top is still completely open. As I mentioned in my previous post, this does not dampen the sound at all.