Prusa i2/I3 auto ejecting bed insulation

myminifactory

This enables the bed of the printer to reach temperature faster by providing insulation. As soon as the printer starts, the insulation is pushed aside to the front. I've recorded a video demonstrating this process, but unfortunately, this site does not accept mp4 files, so I've zipped it instead. The pictures included show a sheet of Harbor Freight flooring used for insulation, which can handle temperatures up to 110 degrees Celsius without issue. However, it's worth noting that the extruder temperature of 170 degrees Celsius is beyond its capabilities. The brown plastic square attached to the insulation with epoxy was 3D printed in PLA. The warmer clamps used to hold the box in place and extend through the foam are also printed in ABS to improve temperature stability, although this may not be entirely necessary. This setup allows my bed to reach 110 degrees Celsius in just 18 minutes, down from 45 minutes previously, and I no longer need to be present to remove the insulation. The enclosure needs to be tall enough to prevent the extruder from going over it during printing. The 3D print is essentially a box with support turned on, which serves as walls for the enclosure. While fragile, this support structure ensures the enclosure's integrity. To determine the required height of the box, you need to consider how high the extruder is when starting the print. If the box is too short, the extruder will clear it and attempt to crush it. You can view a video demonstrating this setup at https://youtu.be/MFVoMciOrhQ.