FlashForge / Replicator Front & Side Opening Window Covers for Enclosure

thingiverse

See instructions may need tweaks. Top front clips require better fingerholds (install easy, hard to get out). I wanted to enclose my FlashForge printer to help with heat for ABS printing, so after looking at some other techniques, I did my own thing. It's similar to some others, but mine is unique. I liked the idea of recessed "windows" that fit within the opening instead of over them. The windows are meant to be cut by laser, but you could do it by hand. Check dimensions here I'm not sure how standard these things are, so if you're laser cutting, try printing the PDF first and see if it fits. Support me, please! If you like my stuff, check out my Lego R2-D2's blog at http://L3-G0.com or L3-G0's YouTube channel. Please tweet or Facebook a link to his page and every visitor helps support my maker habit, thanks! Instructions ----------------- I couldn't get soupaman's clips to print, so I tweaked most of the other stuff. Since I have access to a laser cutter, I made a PDF that it could cut. Check dimensions here I'm not sure how standard these things are, so if you're laser cutting, try printing the PDF first and see if it fits. If you use a different thickness than 1/8" acrylic, you may need to tweak the plastic parts. Parts -------------- Two outer windows for the left & right sides, cut by hand or laser. I have notched one because I have a clip-on light (Fred Meyer) on the printer. One front window, also cut by hand or laser, but the laser's probably way easier 8 round side clips (both front & back), 4 each for the side panels. 1 handle/clasp for front window bottom 2 spring clasps for top of front window.. I need to make these better; it's easy to put the window in but hard to pull out. You'll also need 2 springs for the spring clasps. Mine are 1/4" X 13/32" compression (nominal). 2 #8x32 screws, 1/2" or so. Similar metric size would work if you tap the hole. Assembly: --------- Cut side windows by hand or laser on 1/8" stock. Use SideWindow.pdf or use the "dimensions" file for by-hand. Check the fit of the windows. My side windows didn't fit perfectly and I had to file the sides. Print round clips, 8 fronts & 8 backs (use the two 8x files). I did not need raft or supports. If you care about the dragons, there are 2 on the bottom and one on the left and one on the right when in position. Make sure to use the right fronts to face the right direction. Attach with two #8x32 screws. I had to tap the thread of the clasp. Print both halves of the bottom clasp. I didn't use a raft or supports. Clean up the spring clips, trying not to trim off the little retaining knobs on the inside. Put a spring inside each clip and snap them to the top of the window. Hopefully they then push up when you let them go. Notes: ---- My window sizes aren't exact; I used Davecc's dimensions for the sides, but they were smidgen too fat and I had to file it down. I'm guessing that we're using English approximates for Metric measurements or differences in machine tolerances. My dimensions file is a hair smaller because of that. It may be easier to shove the top springy clips in with one indent sideways and then the other over the plastic. Ditto the inside of the screw threads acts oddly and will need cleaned out. I used a sharpie to color the raised bits black.