3D printer cabinet

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Prusa i3 (2012 and later) with open chamber, must be used with an enclosure to print with certain filament types Prusa i3 3D Printer - Reprap - Completed.jpg
Prusa i3 (2012 and later) with open chamber, must be used with an enclosure to print with certain filament types
Bambu Lab X1 Carbon (2022) with a closed chamber that can print multiple types of high-temperature filament 3d-drucker-lokalicon-2024.jpg
Bambu Lab X1 Carbon (2022) with a closed chamber that can print multiple types of high-temperature filament

A 3D printer cabinet or 3D printer enclosure is an enclosure for a 3D printer that can improve print quality and increase safety by controlling the environment around the printer. [3] The enclosure can be either a separate part from the printer in the form of a box, cabinet, cover, or tent, [4] or be an integral part of the printer (typically in so-called "closed chamber" printers). An enclosure can prevent the spread of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter, reduce dust and odors, provide vibration isolation for reduced vibration [5] and sound isolation for reduced noise, [6] and protect users from touching moving or hot parts (such as the melter). [7] [8]

Contents

Cabinets are available both as assembled aftermarket products [9] [1] and kits [9] [6] or completely homemade [4] [6] (including several designs based on IKEA Lack [2] [10] ), and often feature transparent panels (such as acrylic glass [8] or plexiglass), options for connecting to an exhaust or ventilation system to outdoors, and sometimes options for drying [11] or storing filament, or storing tools related to 3D printing. [11] They may also have a thermometer and hygrometer for automatic temperature control and ventilation control, as well as measuring air pollution [12] (particulate matter and volatile organic compounds).

Printer technologies

Printer enclosures can be relevant for all types of printer technologies. In the consumer market, they are best known for resin printers (SLA) that need protection from ultraviolet radiation, and for some materials in filament printers (FFF) where encapsulation is virtually required for printing high-temperature filaments such as ABS plastic.

In industry, enclosures are very relevant for powder-based printing technologies such as multi-jet fusion (MJF) and selective laser sintering (SLS), among others, as small dust particles can be very harmful to the respiratory tract. In addition, dedicated enclosures are used in post-processing to remove powder from 3D printed parts using compressed air. [1]

Health and safety

Use of filament printers can have negative effects on health and safety due to dust and harmful emissions. [13] [14] Filament printers are a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs, substances that easily dissolve in the air) and particulate matter (PM, particles that remain suspended in the air for a long time). [1] [2] 3D printers emit ultrafine particles (in the order of 1 to 100 nanometers), and research has shown that these are small enough to lodge deep in the respiratory system and be difficult for the body to eliminate. [13]

One study measured over 400 different types of VOCs, several of which were irritatants, [14] sensitizers [14] (the first step in an allergic reaction), asthma-inducing [14] (causes asthma to develop), odorants, [14] carcinogens [14] (promotes cancer development), developmental toxicans [14] (harms development), and reproductive toxicants [14] (interferes with reproduction), which can cause inflammation, respiratory diseases, neurotoxicity, and cancer. [14]

Some specific VOCs that have been measured from 3D printing include lactide, [14] styrene, [14] ethylbenzene, [14] formaldehyde, [14] acetaldehyde, [14] nonanal, [14] tetrahydrofuran, [14] cyclohexanone, [14] butanone, [14] crotonaldehyde, [14] acrylic acid, [14] hydroxyethyl acrylate [14] and methyl methacrylate. [14]

The effect of temperature on printing

Print quality can be both improved and degraded by a cabinet. [1] In general, it is beneficial to maintain a consistent temperature to prevent warping of the workpiece, prevent drafts, and keep out dust (so that the workpiece does not detach from the printing surface and bearings become dirty).

The temperature must be adapted to the material, and must neither be too high or too low. PLA plastic is usually printed at room temperature (for example around 20-30 Celsius [15] ), while too high temperatures can cause heat creep (insufficient cooling of the melter), clogged nozzles due to burnt plastic, string formation, blobs, overhangs, poorer details and weaker parts. Some plastic materials require higher chamber temperatures (for example ABS plastic requires a consistent chamber temperature of around 60-70 Celsius [1] ).

Feeding cold air into a warm chamber can be problematic in that it creates a cool draft. [16] If the chamber has ventilation, it can be an advantage to have roughly the same air pressure inside and outside and some form of heat recovery to avoid cold drafts. [16]

Most consumer 3D printers are designed for indoor use at room temperature, and placing such printers in garages or outdoors can cause print quality issues if the temperature is too low, there is high humidity, cold drafts, or sudden changes in temperature. Printing outdoors or in unheated rooms therefore places greater demands on humidity and temperature control.

Fire hazard

To reduce the risk of fire, it is important that printers placed in a chamber do not overheat, and it is beneficial for the printer to have electronics with active cooling. In particular it may be appropriate to place the power supply outside the heated chamber, but it can also be advantageous to place the motor and controller electronics outside the heated chamber to increase their lifespan. [17] The frame of the cabinet can be made of aluminum profiles [9] or fire-retardant materials. [13] [2] Some recommend installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers near 3D printers, while advanced cabinets can be equipped with automatic fire suppression. [13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Prusa MK3S(+)/MK4 Enclosure: 10 Great Solutions". 2023-12-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 3Druck.com (2024-06-05). "Original Prusa Enclosure in the test - the extras are impressive".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "How to Use 3D Printer Enclosures for Temperature Control, Safety, and Print Quality".
  4. 1 2 "Best DIY 3D Printer Enclosures for Small Budgets". 2025-04-26.
  5. ↑ Levi, Jonathan (2022-12-28). "How to Create The Ultimate 3D Printer Enclosure (DIY Enclosure Walkthrough) - The Next Layer" . Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  6. 1 2 3 Zuza, Mikolas (2018-04-13). "How to build a simple, cheap enclosure for your 3D printer". Original Prusa 3D Printers. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  7. ↑ Deric (2019-03-05). "3D Printer Enclosure". Out of My Element. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  8. 1 2 "What Are the Benefits of an Enclosure for a 3D Printer?". 2025-04-03.
  9. 1 2 3 "What Are the Benefits of an Enclosure for a 3D Printer?". Qidi Tech Online Store. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  10. ↑ Deric (2019-03-05). "3D Printer Enclosure".
  11. 1 2 Richter, Alec. "Tech Breakdown: BCN3D Smart Cabinet".
  12. ↑ Contributor, Guest (2025-08-21). "An open-source 3D printer enclosure for cleaner air".{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. 1 2 3 4 US EPA, ORD (2022-05-20). "3D Printing Research at EPA".
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "TECHNICAL REPORT The Impact of 3D Printing on Indoor Air Quality in a University Maker Center © 2023 Underwriters Laboratories Inc" (PDF).
  15. ↑ "How to Use 3D Printer Enclosures for Temperature Control, Safety, and Print Quality". SOVOL. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  16. 1 2 3D Printing Nerd (2018-11-21). 5 Tips for Building a 3D Printer Enclosure . Retrieved 2025-12-10– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ "Prusa MK3S(+)/MK4 Enclosure: 10 Great Solutions". All3DP. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2025-12-10. "Prusa MK3S(+)/MK4 Enclosure: 10 Great Solutions". All3DP. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
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