UBC Supermileage 3D printer Enclosure
The Challenge
UBC Supermileage was aiming to implement a new 3D printer that can print Carbon-Filled Nylon which are light and strong. The purpose of the 3D printer enclosure is to maintain constant cooling temperature (Improves printing quality) and provide protection. Most importantly, the enclosure should not impede on any operations required on the 3D-printer including maintenance, changing nozzles or filament.
Design of Enclosure
The enclosure should provide protection without interfering teams work on the 3D printer. I implemented wing doors to maximize the space we have to operate on the printer. Cut-out on the doors are replaced with acrylic boards so we can monitor the printing process of our parts. I also gained extensive knowledge in 3D printers such as trouble shooting and printing process to better understand users need.
Manufacturing
A layout and procedure of manufacturing is created using Solidworks. The enclosure was build within 1 week using various hand tools such as electrical drill, circular saw.
What I learned
To design this enclosure, I had to learn all about 3D printer operations. Including assembly, trouble shooting, printing processes and methods. Understanding how the 3D printer works gave me insight on how I can design for usability. I also gained valuable experience in Solidworks assembly and how to deal with interactive parts.