Enclosure for Prusa i3 MK3 based on 30x30mm stock aluminum extrusions

thingiverse

I had thought about an enclosure for my MK3 for quite some time and when I started learning how to use FreeCAD this idea turned out to be a nice study object. As time went by the project was getting more and more detailed - and time consuming :-) ... The design is done in FreeCAD version 0.17.13541, released on 2018-08-16 - and I am happily sharing the .FCStd source files so that other enthusiasts or FreeCAD trainees can have a detailed look without being limited to STEP-files. The design approach is based on the "Assembly2" plugin - with single parts stored in the "parts" subfolder - so you would have to install that plugin if you are not yet using it. 30x30mm profiles seemed fit for the job, not too big and heavy and not too flimsy either ... item Profile 6 30x30 light was my choice, providing 6mm clearance in the T-slot for sturdy wood or PLEXIGLAS plates. I did not include a model of the printer due to file size but if you want to check the printer in its new surroundings you can easily import a model into your FreeCAD session, like this nice work from jzkmath here (there is also a STEP-file included): https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2699771. The STEP-model of the 80x80mm Sunon fan used to design the extraction fan housing comes from Ventsislav Simonov https://grabcad.com/library/sunon-80mm-fan-1. Other 80x80x25mm 24V fans might also work if their hole pattern matches. With regard to the profiles and buy parts/assembly parts like screws, hinges, adapter plates, wheels etc. (that you can find in the "parts" subfolder) I have to give credit to item Industrietechnik GmbH who are providing STEP-files (and tons of other formats) of their products through their web site - https://product.item24.de/en/products/product-catalogue/products/mb-building-kit-system-1001009411 - and their CAD Download Center. If you are looking for master data of parts that I used this would be the place to go. Parts from other suppliers will also work if the dimensions are similar but let's give credit to the guys as they are providing us with solid STEP-files of their products ... Clearly this is not a cheap solution, rather one you would expect on a shop floor - but it is easily adaptable and expandable (e.g. with external PSU mounting, fan control, smoke detection, different plates) and in my humble opinion it looks like jig construction :-). Things to note: - not all "Universal-Fastening Sets" have been modeled yet, just one in the top left corner as an example ... - not all fasteners and T-slot nuts have been modeled yet ... - the sketch used to create the aluminum extrusions of Profile 6 is not 100% perfect, I will have to rework that a bit in the future. - I am aware that this "low, close to the floor" design is not ergonomic at all - please consider this as a first shot, an evolution with two levels is already shaping up in my mind. If you are interested in Printer Enclosures have a look at the original "Lack Enclosure" from Dominik Císař here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2864118 And last but not least: Your feedback is appreciated! I am ready to adapt and improve the design ... 2019-01-06: UPDATE I Hmh, classical mistake - I did not pay attention to the heat bed cable loom ... when the Y-axis is in maximum aft position the cables will clash. So I increased the enclosure depth by 50mm with revision A04 (an angled heat bed cable fixation might still be interesting). Also added a smoke detector, used a nice model created by Mark Gunn (https://grabcad.com/library/smoke-detector-alarm-1). 2019-01-21: UPDATE II I was inspired by the Air Purifier design from the Happy_Mad_Scientist (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3331276) and added as an alternative an adaptation of my extraction vent housing into a circulation filter housing - providing a DIN EN 418-1 Rd40x1/7" inner round thread to be able to fit the more common European gas & particle filters, like the Dräger A2B2P3 combi filter or the Sundström SR 515 ABE1 combined with a SR 510 P3 particle filter. Design revision A05 also features some additional screw holes in the back plate and fasteners. Note: currently the model is only featuring a DIN 405-1 Rd40x1/6" thread to show the principle while I still need to get the exact DIN EN 418-1 geometry ...