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An enclosure allows for better printing of “engineering” materials like ABS/ASA, nylon, TPU, and polypropylene where a higher, consistent ambient temperature helps prevent warping during printing. It also enables ventilation or filtration of harmful particles and fumes generated by certain polymers. Adding an enclosure to an existing printer has many challenges, as explained in this Hackaday article.
Many builds exist using two IKEA Lack side tables; I wanted to take it to the next level (and preserve floor space) by mounting a Lack-based cube-like enclosure on the wall in a floating arrangement (with no visible supports underneath).
The Lack tables are basically made of paper, so it took a while to develop a structural design. Almost all of the modification is to the lower table “top” (which I’ll call the base). It is partially hollowed out to allow two support beams to slide inside and support the weight of the entire assembly.
These beams are cantilevered out from wall studs. To achieve stiffness, each 1/2″ threaded rod extends fully through the stud, and a piece of 3/4″ electrical conduit is slid in place over it and clamped against the stud with bearing plates, tensioning the rod. The front support block has a feature to capture the washer, which prevents the block from being slid along the conduit as the beams are inserted into the base. The rear blocks are screwed to the wall to keep them in place.
Since it’s almost impossible to drill two long holes perfectly level and perpendicular, the beam support blocks have removeable, magnetically-attached leveling shims. I tuned in their thickness and 3D angle after assembling and measuring the skew, adjusting the CAD model and re-printing new ones that created a level, planar platform inside the base.
A benefit of this design is it required very little modification to the Lack pieces, meaning if any get damaged later, modifying a replacement isn’t overly burdensome.
To avoid damage from the elevated ambient temps, I relocated the printer’s power supply unit (PSU) into the closet on the other side of the supporting wall. I used a modified version of the original Prusa enclosure PSU-relocation wiring harness. I designed and installed a custom shelf in the closet, supported by the exposed beam rods. The electrical disconnect inside the housing (assembled into a custom passthrough tray and panel) allows the printer to be removed for service.
So far I have not completed the doors (which will be acrylic panels), so it’s just a floating shelf rather than an enclosure until then. However, I have designed the corner hinges, a print-in-place, eccentric design partially inspired by this one.
There will be a front door and a left-side door that meet at the left, front corner. To attach the corners (table legs), I drilled the tabletop holes the rest of the way through so a furniture screw could pass through and into a zinc threaded insert installed in the legs.
Other things I need to finish to make it an operational enclosure:
- external filament holder and passthrough (w/ PTFE tube)
- filtration system
- lighting
- control-panel relocation
- Raspberry Pi control, automation, camera
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