Author Topic: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.  (Read 5381 times)

Offline A7er

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Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« on: October 20, 2022, 10:09:41 PM »
OK, I own up. It's not actually a cabinet, it's the cardboard box the wash and cure machine came in. But it is heated, with a 60 watt desk lamp. And the insulation consists of 2 travel rugs slung over the top and draped down the sides. but when the temp in the house was hovering around 60 ish yesterday and I didn't want the central heating on, the temp in the cabinet was 90 plus. I thought that was a bit high so I went shopping today for a 25 or 40 watt bulb, you remember, the old ones that got really hot. No luck. I could either have led or one of those fireglow bulbs, which was 60 watt.

If I can't get a lower wattage bulb I will have to introduce ventilation. An 'ole in it.

Lee


Online crueby

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2022, 10:24:37 PM »
Rig up a thermostat to turn the light on and off?   :noidea:

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2022, 10:47:39 PM »
Is there such a thermostat? I have a plug in timer that could switch the light on and off say every ten to fifteen minutes, but I thought that might damage the bulb.

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2022, 10:57:51 PM »
I have searched the net and there are plug in thermostats available. They start at about £12 and go up in price, some even have a remote control. I have aslo seen a 40 watt electric heater from Toolstation.

Offline PJPickard

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2022, 01:32:16 AM »
I made my box from foam core and have a 60 watt bulb(real bulb!) on a dimmer. I also have a scavenged fan from an old computer to circulate the air. Also a cheap thermometer so I look at the temp and adjust the dimmer. It seems to work. I actually bought a bunch of parts to automate it but I haven't got to that...for a couple years!

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2022, 08:15:00 AM »
I like the idea of using foam for a box. I did try a 15 watt fridge bulb, it raised the temp by 3 degrees, but in a well insulated box it think it could do better.
Lee

Offline ddmckee54

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2022, 02:56:31 PM »
If you can get a 15W fridge bulb, why not use 3 of them?  Then you've of 45W of heat input in your box, you might even get more even heating by spreading them out.  Like PJPickard, use a standard off the shelf dimmer for control.  It won't be temperature regulated, and they aren't QUITE a dime a dozen - but they're close.  Or if you're so inclined, build yourself an Arduino controlled temperature regulation system - like this one. https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/MrRoboto19/electric-kiln-controller-f5c633 (I swiped the link from Fokerty.)  It's for a kiln, but that's kinda what you're building, just low temperature.

Don

Offline Bluechip

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2022, 03:43:50 PM »
A terrarium heater   :thinking:  .... various sorts .... an eg.:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08FRM3DHH/ref=emc_b_5_t

Comes with temp.  control.

Depends how much of your treasury contents you want to throw at it .

Dave

Offline Mcgyver

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2022, 04:13:45 PM »
Please, its an environmental chamber, a bespoke environment chamber. :)

I just went through this, so might be able to save you time and heartache.   here's a reasonably cheap amazon solution that works perfectly.  It took several thermostat attempts to get one that works, but this one is accurate and works perfectly.  East to set high and low.  Foam board with duct tape, done so it folds flat for storing.  You are running perfectly for less than 100 dollarettes with no futzing about or anything to build and I think, fairly safe.

I may make some clips to ensure the top stays in place, so far have just put few pounds of steel on the top above the front piece.  (not reason it shouldn't stay in place, but it feels more solid this way).  There is a remote thermocoupler from the thermostat that sits inside the box.  I'm careful to place the heater with nothing too close to it.  I'll put the bottle of resin in and run it for a few hours before doing a print.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08XNW34G4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07V6M4MSN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1




















« Last Edit: October 21, 2022, 04:22:54 PM by Mcgyver »

Online crueby

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2022, 04:31:17 PM »
Add some nice windows and a small door, and its a bespoke shop-elf appartment!

Offline Mcgyver

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #10 on: October 21, 2022, 05:00:30 PM »
lol, its the old laundry room....as kids started leaving I moved the laundry to a bedroom on the 2nd floor.  Old dryer vent is my ventilation.  There are windows, but they're blacked out....can't have UV light about.   Its a messy and smelly enough operation that I put an effort to make a complete system so mess and smell are minimized and contained.

ah, ok, slow on uptake....windows in the chamber.  No shop elves here, enough trouble keeping it rodent free without extra issues :)

Offline BillTodd

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2022, 05:07:34 PM »
I use an old wardrobe, with a cheap fan heater.

The microwave oven is actually a uv exposure box

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #12 on: October 21, 2022, 05:24:00 PM »
Strewth! I didn't expect so many replies to my little attempt at building a heated, "Environmental Chamber", thank you Mcgyver! I can see that I am going to have to take this seriously. The next few days will see me buying various bits and bobs to come up with a proper cabinet. I look forward to it.
Lee
P.S I should have thought of the three 15 watt bulbs idea. I hope They are still available. If not, I have some kanthal wire to make heating coils for my foundry. I could wind one at 40 watts or so. I like ALL the ideas!

Offline Bluechip

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #13 on: October 21, 2022, 07:00:01 PM »

P.S I should have thought of the three 15 watt bulbs idea. I hope They are still available.


I think microwave and conventional oven lamps are around 15W and still filament types.

D.

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2022, 10:26:52 PM »
Thanks Bluechip. I think mine was a spare for my fridge or microwave. I will get some more and the fittings for them.
Lee

Offline BillTodd

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #15 on: October 21, 2022, 10:46:13 PM »
Be careful with bulbs, they obviously run very hot, i e. Ignition temperatures.

You may be better of with a cheap ceramic heater from curling tongs or something.

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2022, 10:59:10 PM »
I wonder if water washable resin is flammable? I do use IPA to clean the fep film after washing it with water, but the IPA should never get near the heat source.
Lee

Offline BillTodd

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2022, 08:51:19 AM »
My guess would be that all types of printing resins will burn , just by nature of being hydrocarbons.

My concern about ignition was more to do with your blankets and boxes,  and other paraphernalia that is kept about.

The thought of an IPA vapour explosion , however, has got me wondering about how and where I store the stuff while printing and heating.

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #18 on: October 22, 2022, 12:49:32 PM »
I am now wondering about using foam board as the carcase of the cabinet. I think the board is only dangerous if exposed to naked flame.
My idea was for a three sided cabinet with lid, and a front panel either hinged or just held in place. Three 15 watt bulbs mounted securely to a wooden board that would sit behind the printer, out of the way. If three bulbs generated too much heat, one of them could be removed or replaced with a 5 watt bulb. All cheap and cheerful I admit, but it fits the bill. I know a timber based board like ply or chipboard isn't as thermally eficient as foam, but it might be ok.
Lee

Offline bent

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #19 on: November 16, 2022, 10:58:49 PM »
Nice work, and some great suggestions from others as well.  I've done similar for thermal testing at work - box made from 2x2's and some sheet foam insulation from the local hardware store, thermostat and a 60w bulb works fine, though higher temperatures get trickier.

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #20 on: November 16, 2022, 11:55:49 PM »
In the end I stayed with ultra low-tech. I still use the cardboard box the wash and cure machine came in, I have four large thick towels draped over the top and sides, and a single 40 watt bulb made for lighting the inside of an oven that will work up to 300 degrees. The inside of the cabinet easily reaches 90f and during warm up I have the bottle of resin inside the cabinet getting warm, and the build plate suspended several inches above the bulb to get warm too. Easy peasy, and dirt cheap!

Offline ddmckee54

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #21 on: November 18, 2022, 03:13:21 PM »
If you ever do want to go with foam insulation, think about using the foil covered polyurethane foam.  That's what is used inside DIY active solar collectors.  It can stand up to stagnant air temperatures near 200°F.

Don

Offline A7er

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Re: Bespoke heated and insulated cabinet for a resin 3D printer.
« Reply #22 on: November 18, 2022, 03:22:31 PM »
I will check out he price and availability of the foam. It would be a lot easier than to keep unwrapping the cardboard box!

 

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