Making a Prusa Mendel look "nicer"?

Hello!
I built a Prusa Mendel time ago for a project. I need to present the reprap but I think It would look nicer if you use laser cut aluminum and make a nice box around it, like a makerbot. Has anyone thought about this or done this? I'm looking forward to make this

Kind of like this

or even like this


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2013 07:19PM by tuficneme.

I went and put a bunch of black cable management on the threaded rods, I think it looks pretty sick. also I made the bed plate from aluminum diamond plate, and then I bought some longer threaded rods to make the build area 10"x10", which doesnt exactly matter as the bed is only so big anyways.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2013 09:28PM by aduy.

aduy Wrote:
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.... I think it looks pretty sick. also I made the bed plate from aluminum
diamond plate, and then ....

Is that a typo Aduy? I'm sure you didn't mean that!

waitaki Wrote:
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> aduy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> .... I think it looks pretty sick. also I made the
> bed plate from aluminum
> diamond plate, and then ....
>
> Is that a typo Aduy? I'm sure you didn't mean
> that!

I think he did.

"Sick" has been known to also mean "cool" and "rad" when used in this context. Just like "mad", "dope" and "da bomb". ;-)

You must be foreign (i.e. from a non predominantly english speaking nation) or 90 years old - no offence intended.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2013 10:29PM by HaniC.

err, wrong on both counts,,
English born and bred and sick means crappy in the context referred to above.
Maybe you're the foreigner?
No offence intended!

waitaki Wrote:
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> err, wrong on both counts,,
> English born and bred and sick means crappy in the
> context referred to above.
> Maybe you're the foreigner?
> No offence intended!

Relax pal! I said don't get offended as the second part was just a joke.

It's what they call "slang". Not 'proper' English and probably not used in that context by the aristocratic society of the UK but is definitely a slang term widely used as described. If you don't beleive me just use that google search tool people are talking about these days... ;-)

Quote
Winston Churchill
Americans and British are one people separated only by a common language.

---

Bob Morrison
Wörth am Rhein, Germany
"Luke, use the source!"
BLOG - PHOTOS - Thingiverse

well if you want me to translate, I do declare that it looks quite dashing, if I do say so my self.

I immediately understood what 'sick' meant in this context. And I have autism.

aduy Wrote:
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> well if you want me to translate, I do declare
> that it looks quite dashing, if I do say so my
> self.



FWIW I'm neither American nor British.

BTW I swear, Churchill has some of the best quotes.

well so what do you guys actually think? does it look good or not?

Hi Tuficneme,
You could put a box around the Prusa Mendel, but I think it would just look like a Mendel in a box, to anyone that knows the printer. It may clean up the look for others though. The box shape on the other printers is part of their design and part of their look. To me the Mendel wedge shape has become the recognisable shape of a "RepRap" printer, a sort of Classic. You can certainly put it in a box and it may give a 'neater' outward appearance to the printer, but you'll be putting an Iconic shaped printer in a box! Just my 2c, that's all.

Actually, my Mendel is in a box, but that's functional.It's to form a heated chamber when I'm printing ABS. You can see it here: http://numbersixreprap.blogspot.ie/2012/12/a-focus-on-abs-and-new-printer-hood.html, but I think it looks pretty unattractive to be honest. Maybe I could do a better job with some nice sheet aluminium and a cutter.

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[numbersixreprap.blogspot.com]

NumberSix
I like how it looks right now. Maybe changing the material of the box so it looks better in the inside, or only the color, but even the wood looks good!

With the way I have mine setup, I could mount panels on the outside and the front and back. I saw one company replaced the triangles with plexiglass and that looked pretty dank(nice for those who need a translation).

Aduy
I like yours, way more organized than mine! I think that your printer can be better looking with the panels you mentioned. If you ever do it, please submit a picture!

How about using some of these?

SheldonE Wrote:
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> How about using some of these?


those are pretty cool, if i wasn't making a new printer from the parts of my prusa I would do that. also the columns would make it very easy to make sure every rod is the correct length.

i don't like a box like the fakerbot, if it doesn't have a purpose.
that's why i made a flightcase for my prusa:
[www.thingiverse.com]

make's it look better, and keeps it save when moving.

This is how the last couple Prusas that I built looked, cleaning up the wiring goes a long way:





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2013 12:14PM by NewPerfection.

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