3D printer enclosure from broken dishwasher

youmagine

Human: Use at your own risk to repurpose metal and save a significant amount of money, or view it as a reckless example of something you should never attempt. I'm not a licensed electrician and learned by experiencing electrical shocks, burns, and cuts firsthand. Even experienced professionals working with electricity can inadvertently set their house ablaze due to a minor oversight. A metal enclosure cannot catch fire like wood does, but it poses an increased risk of shorting a cable. Tape over any sharp or exposed metal surface where cables may come into contact. Ensure the power cord is safely secured and won't be damaged by the printer itself. Otherwise, it might get scratched by the Z-axis or even melted against the extruder. Never leave the chamber unattended with power connected! Even a 12-volt light can ignite a fire if directly shorted, and it won't draw enough amperage to trigger a fuse. Avoid using any combustible materials inside or outside the enclosure. Verify that each electrical wire is properly shielded against metal surfaces, sharp edges, and high temperatures. Don't remove the printer without supporting its weight. A dishwasher without its water pump doesn't weigh much and may tip over you. Metal edges within a dishwasher can be extremely sharp! Don't touch them without wearing gloves. Carefully sand them down and apply tape if you frequently forget to wear protective gear. Ensure the metal casing is properly grounded. Even with an intact electrical cord, static charges can build up due to friction and potentially damage printer electronics. I experienced a painful discharge from mechanical friction alone. Utilize multiple 12-volt fans to cool the chamber by drawing air out through coal filters in the largest opening. Use an additional air purifier in the room or direct dirty air outside. Try not to enter the room during toxic plastic prints. Employ a budget-friendly Wi-Fi camera to monitor progress from a safe distance. Reflective surfaces may interfere with auto-exposure, so focus on the build plate. Some cameras might malfunction or receive a poor signal unless you leave the enclosure slightly ajar, which will release toxic gases. You won't need to throttle fans; simply maximize cooling in any way possible, and it will still reach 45 degrees Celsius. Avoid pulling the power cord directly against metal! The cable holder should be printed in duplicate and secured on both sides of an opening using eight M5 nuts and bolts. Scale the model slightly if necessary to accommodate existing holes. Allow filament to feed from the printed spool holder on top of the enclosure. Dishwashers typically have a small hole at the top center, which was originally used to mount a spinner and will now serve as your filament feeding point. Employ a digital thermometer to check ambient temperature. I constructed mine with power sockets for fans and lights so that all devices use the same power supply. Don't attempt this if you can afford a well-built enclosed 3D printer, which already features these safety measures along with additional security protocols. You may want to consider an all-metal hotend upgrade when using this chamber; otherwise, the PTFE heat insulation tube will swell due to higher temperatures, causing filament to get stuck.