Improved lack enclosure with dry box ptfe tube connections and other upgrades

thingiverse

I wanted a modified IKEA LACK enclosure that fed filament directly from dryboxes via PTFE tubes, eliminating exposure to humidity. The original design has its merits, but I made several changes. My printer sits on a sturdy metal shelving unit bolted to the wall, not the flimsy IKEA shelf. The top of the enclosure is now covered with a custom-made piece, created by slicing off a few millimeters from the original design. Inside the drybox, I've installed humidity sensors, which are held in place using a custom-designed mount. These sensors monitor the humidity levels within the box and provide real-time data on my computer screen. The spools of filament sit on an 8mm threaded rod, which is surprisingly hard to find in local hardware stores. Amazon came to the rescue with their vast selection of metric threading rods. To prevent the rod from spinning and unraveling spools not being used, I created custom mounts using a design modified from Thingiverse's "Mounts for 608zz bearings." The bearings themselves are sourced from Amazon and fit perfectly inside filament spool hubs also found on Thingiverse. The filament exits the box through PTFE tube fittings screwed into the guides. These fittings are specifically designed to hold PTFE tubes tightly in place, ensuring a smooth flow of filament. PTFE tubes with an ID of 3mm and OD of 4mm provide just the right amount of tension for 1.75mm filament to slide through without resistance. The tubes then pass through the shelf, where they are guided by custom-made grommets that protect them from damage and clean up the look. Once inside the LACK enclosure, the PTFE tubes are secured using a design found on Thingiverse, along with PC4-M10 fittings. These fittings hold the tubes tightly in place, ensuring a smooth flow of filament to the extruder. The top piece of the enclosure has been modified to fit perfectly over the custom-made guides, providing a clean and tidy finish.