I am considering the move of my older 3D Printers out to the Garage.
The main reason is I am looking to invest in yet another 3D Printer (multicolor - faster) and I need the room. The office is getting a make over/clean out.
I am thinking on moving my Monoprice Maker Select V2 and my LSeeStudio A602 out to the garage. I might even move my Monoprice Ultimate out there as well. All function as they should. Been using the LSeeStudio the most recently as I recently brought this to life as the previous owner had it in storage/assumed unfinished kit for years.
The problem I am having is I am concerned with dust/keep it clean. The garage is used year round and anything from woodworking, metal working,electronics work, heavy automotive, and as I live rural animal raising (rare) has occured in said garage. I do have two pole barns…one for animals and the other for storage of large trailers etc but they do not have heat or the ability (right now) for heat (cold winters here) so they are not being considered at this time.
I try to keep my printers clean, I wipe down the print beds with a spray of IPA (rubbing alcohol) and clean anything that looks dusty at any print engagement. I live in a rural environment so there is a lot of dust/pollens from the fields etc.
I have considered enclosing all said printers in a wood/plexiglass box setup. I have even consider having the wife create up a cover on her sewing machine. The covers I would be concerned with the possible hot temps and covers (fire). So I am leaning towards the enclosures.
What can I do keep dust off these printers? What have others done? Anyone have experiences with building an enclosure for a 3D Printer? Anything I should keep in mind if I go this route? Thoughts?
Enclosure, definitely. For garage, dust-tight sounds great.
I used twin-wall polycarbonate greenhouse panels. Cuts (carefully!) with a utility knife. Can take screws. I taped up the seams with clear packing tape. Has enough insulation value that I can heat the chamber, but not enough that it would overheat. Transparent enough to kind of see through; easy to cut a window opening for transparent sheet if you want (I didn’t bother).
I bought panels at a “big box” store before learning that this was not the most cost-effective source. A search for “polycarbonate greenhouse panel twinwall” finds lots of options that are cheaper than the eye-poppingly expensive panels at the local home improvement store.
I recommend getting a HEPA filter and filtering the air and pushing it into the enclosure to make it positively pressured to keep all the dust out even when the door is opened.
Thanks for the info never thought about greenhouse panels. Originally I was thinking of visiting a place in Toledo (a little drive but I am up there twice a month). They sell everything in plastics. Can gets sheets of many sizes, colors, and types. Also the chemicals to bond things together. I have used Lexan before and built a couple enclosures which could be considered large aquariums…but that stuff is pricey but those aquarium type enclosures had to stand hot water solutions for dying carpet (close to steam point). My Fathers business was everything in floor coverings…repair/clean/new etc.
A design in my head based on the pocket book…was a 1/4 luan back side enclosure, 2x2 frame, with front doors out of 1x2 and plastic sheets. Based on where I put it in the garage I am also considering a vent system out a window.