Enclosure

Would like to build a fireproof/resistant enclosure for my printer.

Anyone have plans?

Thanks

Nick

Fireproof probably doesn't exist. Fire resistant? Sure...

[www.thingiverse.com]

While the foam is fire resistant, if you hold it together with stuff that will burn or melt, the foam may not help you- a fire in the box may cause the whole box to fall apart. To really be effective against fire you probably need to hold the enclosure together with metal.

It's probably better to do things to prevent a catastrophic failure. See: [forums.reprap.org]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2017 06:22PM by the_digital_dentist.

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]

Naturally, an aluminum or steel frame to screw/bolt the panels.

If you make panels out of cement fiber board, you could hold a propane torch to it and it would laugh. Good insulator as well, and cheap from any hardware store (also known as backer board and a hundred brand names).
Then there's your FRP fiberglass or G10/FR4 garolite sheets, expensive but rigid.
You can always opt for sheet metal, usually pick up scrap for free.

For clear stuff...
Acrylic is semi-flame proof, tends to bubble, stink and ooze with a direct flame, but not catch on fire. Good for windows/doors so you can see inside. Not very strong (flexes easily), but cheap, tough, yet easy to scratch.
If you can afford borosilicate glass do it, it can be cut and drilled (carbide spades), unlike tempered glass which will shatter. Borosilicate glass is formulated to handle heat/cool cycles really well, normal glass will crack over time.

Quote
prot0typ1cal
For clear stuff...
Acrylic is semi-flame proof, tends to bubble, stink and ooze with a direct flame, but not catch on fire. Good for windows/doors so you can see inside. Not very strong (flexes easily), but cheap, tough, yet easy to scratch.
If you can afford borosilicate glass do it, it can be cut and drilled (carbide spades), unlike tempered glass which will shatter. Borosilicate glass is formulated to handle heat/cool cycles really well, normal glass will crack over time.

I was thinking of using polycarbonate, should have better fire resistance than acrylic..?

Quote
lars.arvidson
I was thinking of using polycarbonate, should have better fire resistance than acrylic..?

True, polycarbonate extinguishes itself. And there's also flame retardant grade (9034?).
Acrylic is cheaper, and therefore you can go thicker for the same price point.

Fire prevention is alot more important here I think. Very few products are fireproof, yet we use them daily but they do consider common points of failure like wire strain, fuses and thermal fuses...all of which go unnoticed in most 3D printer designs.

Thermal fuse costs pennies, low hanging fruit y'know?

Origamib

Please expand on the use of a thermal fuse.

Thanks

Nick

See [forums.reprap.org]

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]