Introduction: Heated 3d Printer Enlosure , Reprap, Prusa,I3, Makerbot

About: British born, live in USA, interested in loads of stuff.... noticed one thing, NO ONE on instrutables has a frigen humor, maybe someone should do an instructable on that :)

I tried ABS printing which was part failure as when it cooled some layers split and some warp-age, after research i learnt that i needed a heated enclosure so the filament cooled gradually and also needed to prevent draft, so all parts cooled evenly, I can now get this box up to around 50c which is more than enough.

Step 1: 3d Printer Heated Enclosure Box

This is my heated enclosure for a 3d printer to help stop warp-age and draft when using ABS

Bottom and top boards are 1 inch ply, cut 21x24"

side bars are 2x3 wood at 19" length

30" Piano hinge which was cut down to 19". Available from any good hardware store, mine came from Ace Hardware, cost was $4.50

2x magnetic catch's

1x brass door handle

3mm Lexan although perspex would be fine

tin foil covered with Mylar over the top of the which was stapled around the edges of the inside top part to reflect the heat.

Threaded rod for the extruder with lock nuts to hold in place, mine was 3/8 although 10mm will be fine.

I drilled a hole 2 inches in front of each extruder holder, in the top board so the filament can come through, i drilled a small hole and simply cut a disposable drinking straw 1.5" long and glued through the hole to use as a filament guide (flush on top and the extra half inch hangs below,as in pic)

The heat source is a basking lamp holder with a 150w infrared 150w heat bulb from a local reptile store and the thermometer also from the same store, all by a company called Exo-Terra

Lamp holder part number- PT2057 - I paid $32.99

150W bulb part number- PT2146 - I paid $14.99

Thermometer cost $2.99

Total box size to house a 12" ave sized printer 60.1cm depth, 50.6cm width, 50cm height

Total cost was around $65 as i already had the wood

Since added:

Air vent.

dual spool holders with bearings taken from thingiverse.com.