a flightcase for a prusa
Description
things i wanted:
- it had to look cool, so no square box
- it had to be able to print, both open and closed
- L shaped, so i could add a spool holder
- windows to see it print
- less than 1/2 sheet wood (flightcase wood is very expensive, and most vendors will sell you a 4ft by 4ft sheet)
all in all, flightcases aren't cheap, and mine came out at 180€ with everything
there are 2 good flightcase suppliers (adam hall and penn) about 98% of all flightcases i see at my job are from one or the other
on this one i used adam hall material, so i'll provide you a part list from them
Instructions
so if you are lost, take it to your local theater or P.A. firm and ask for some help.
cut the wood according to the plan, you may need to add or lose 1mm depending how thick your wood is. (plan is for 10mm)
nail the box together with thin nails (use closing lids in between the 2 parts of the back, see the pictures)
add the closing lids
add the corner profiles (at the corners they just need to connect, no need to cut them under a angle, the ball corner will cover them)
to make them in a 135° angle, take a wood block of about 8 by 8 by 50 cm,
cut it half way length wise under 22,5°. flip it over and cut it again.
now use this in a vise to turn the 90° aluminium in 135°
add the corner balls
cut out the parts to add the butterfly catches and add them
add some handles
the parts i added in the parts list is for the very basic, you can go a lot further like i did, or even go way over the top.
this is what i did extra:
- added windows (made them myself from tour label dishes and 5mm plexi)
- added 5mm foam inside
- made a chamber for the Power supply with spare parts and a cooling dish)
- added 4 feet
- added corner braces
- added sunk in handles
- added a dish with 2 D size holes (put a neutric usb connector in one, left the other open for later upgrades)
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What we really need is printible replacements for all the aluminum extrusions. And the catches.
Very nice -- I could have done with that before moving my prusa to Germany ... by taking it completely apart, and then rebuilding it at the other end, which did mean that it fit into my backpack along with a load of clothes and other stuff, so probably an easier carry to the airport.
The reason I took mine to bits was that I couldn't think of a way of supporting the X carriage such that a heavy knock wouldn't end up with the hot-end wandering about and getting smashed up, so I abandoned my thoughts of flight cases.
I suppose if there was custom-cut foam that one could slot in
around it, that would do the trick, but I don't see much evidence of padding in your photos -- have you had any thoughts on the matter?
my plan is to move X all the way up for long(risky) transport, and just put a
the 4 legs can be bolted to the bottom if needed so the printer can't move around in the case.
custom cut foam would be awesome, and i'm probably going to do it, but i don't think everyone has access to 3D foam cutter.
however, it would not hard to print a piece that fit's between the Z-motors and the top of the case.
now i have to find someone with a 3D printer...
You mention the L shape so you could add a spool holder. Do you currently have it setup for the spool holder, or is this something you have to add yet, and how do you plan to add it?
very cool!
it could double as frosting-fridge or heating-chamber for ABS
License
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This is amazing, you should sell them!!!