Bot Window for Cold Environment Printing

thingiverse

Build platforms are sensitive to changes in temperature and can affect your prints. After testing a few iterations here is a design that is ready to share; I call it the Bot Window. I know what your thinking, what a creative and catchy name. :) Ok, truth be told its a simple but effective design that consists of acrylic panels to cover three sides of the bot (left, right and rear (and gets bolted on using left over MBI parts). This summer the space I was in had a non-controllable AC where temps were around 55F, yes you read that right, (95F outside at the time). After blocking off air vents to decrease windflow in the room and covering three sizes of the MB (left, rear and right) with cardboard the temps went up to the 65F range. Using a make-shift hood on top (think barn roof) this got me to the 69F+ range and more importantly back to good prints without lifting of edges from rapid cooling. With drafts from outside and windows in the new space the window panels have taken the chill off the platform (reduced draft) and keeping me in the mid 80's consistently. This design is based off of the MBI TOM MP887 Rev-I design file and will rest on top of the cover plates of the rods running from front to back. If you have access to a laser cutter or know someone that has one, this will be quick work. Panels were cut courtesy of my friend Angus Hines (www.angushines.com), thanks Angus! Instructions Laser Cut three of the same panels, in my pics you will find 3mm acrylic was used. You will need to drill 4 holes into the wood of your T-O-M for each panel (holes are already in the design). Attach these using M3x16 bolts and nuts that were left over from your MB build. With a Cordless drill and 4 minutes of time you will have all your panels in place. Tips: Acrylic comes with paper on the front/back, when you are ready to mount take the paper off one side only and put a light inside (to help with alignment for drilling holes). The design was made so that the window will sit on top of the plates covering the slide rods (front to back). This will only be used on the rear panel (or front depending on your configuration).