Keep Your Prusa 3D Printer Safe With The Perfect Enclosure

3D printing with a Prusa i3 MK3S or any Prusa printer can produce amazing results. But environmental factors like drafts, temperature changes, and dust can negatively impact your prints. An enclosure helps protect your printer, improves print quality, and allows printing with exotic filaments like ABS. This guide will compare enclosure options for Prusa printers so you can pick the best one for your needs and budget.

Why Use An Enclosure For Your Prusa Printer?

Enclosures offer many benefits for your Original Prusa i3 or Prusa Mini:

• Prevent Drafts – Any air currents in the room can cool parts of your print unevenly, causing warping or layer splitting. An enclosure blocks drafts to keep temperatures steady.
• Improve ABS Prints – ABS plastic needs higher ambient temperatures to print successfully. An enclosure helps ABS prints adhere to the bed and prevents cracking or warping.
• Enable Exotic Materials – Specialty filaments like Nylon also require higher temps. An enclosure allows you to experiment with more materials.
• Keep Out Dust – An enclosure prevents dust and debris from getting on your prints or clogging up your extruder.
• Protect From Pets/Kids – Curious hands or paws can interfere with a print and damage your hotend. An enclosure keeps your Prusa safe.
• Reduce Noise – Closing off your printer reduces noise from fans and stepper motors. Keep your workspace quiet with an enclosure.

Clearly enclosures offer significant benefits for only a modest investment. But which enclosure is right for your Prusa MK3S, MK2.5S, or Mini?

Official Prusa Enclosure

Prusa Research offers an official enclosure specially designed for their printers. This is an excellent option with lots of smart features.

The Prusa enclosure is made from 5mm thick PVC panels with a powder coating finish. It assembles easily using threaded rods to hold the panels together. The back panel is split into upper and lower halves that slide up and down for easy print access.

Key features of the Prusa printer enclosure:

• Fits the MK3S, MK2.5S, and Mini models.
• Made from sturdy PVC panels.
• Doors lift up fully for print removal.
• Top panels slide open for loading filament.
• Slots to feed cables in and out neatly.
• Room for spool holders inside.
• Infrared camera window to remotely monitor prints.
• Customized airflow for optimal cooling.
• Easy to assemble with included tools.
• Available in kit form or pre-assembled.

Since this enclosure was designed by Prusa Research specifically for their printers, it offers the best fit and function. The price is also quite reasonable at $169 for a DIY kit or $339 pre-assembled. It comes in black or orange colors.

Overall the official Prusa printer enclosure provides great protection in an attractive package. The smart design considers all the needs of monitoring and accessing your Prusa MK3S or Mini. For most owners, this first-party enclosure is the obvious choice.

DIY Enclosure Options

The Prusa official enclosure offers an appealing turnkey solution. But it still requires assembly, and the cost may deter some users. Constructing your own DIY enclosure is a great alternative.

Many people have made DIY Prusa enclosures from a variety of materials:

• IKEA Lack Table – This popular budget enclosure uses IKEA’s $10 Lack tables turned on their side. The right number of tables encloses a Prusa nicely.
• Cardboard or Wood – Simple cardboard boxes or lightweight wood panels are easy to work with. Just cut openings for the doors and top access.
• Plexiglass – Plexiglass sheets are easy to cut, drill, and glue together to form a custom enclosure.
• Recycled Materials – Old computer cases or other boxes can be repurposed instead of buying new materials.

A DIY Prusa 3D printer enclosure has several advantages:

• Very affordable using scrap materials.
• Fully customizable to your space constraints.
• Fun weekend project using your existing tools.
• Add upgrades like LED lighting or Raspberry Pi monitoring.
• Easy to modify or expand later.

The main challenges with a DIY enclosure are finding suitable materials and designing a sturdy structure. It also takes time and skill to construct vs buying a kit. But the cost savings and customization abilities make a DIY Prusa enclosure rewarding.

Buying a Pre-Made Enclosure

Between the official Prusa enclosure and fully DIY versions lies another option – purchasing a pre-made third party enclosure. These offer simpler assembly than a DIY build without the cost of the Prusa kit.

There are now several enclosures available on Amazon or other sites that are made to fit Prusa i3 printers. For example:

• Creality Fireproof Enclosure – $239 fully assembled
• Coolidea Acrylic Enclosure – $159 acrylic panels
• Comgrow Acrylic Box – $139 DIY acrylic kit
• Geeetech Acrylic Enclosure – $120 3mm acrylic

These third party enclosures range from basic acrylic DIY kits to sturdy prebuilt enclosures. Pricing runs $100-$250 depending on materials and features. They provide an easier building experience than designing your own DIY version.

The tradeoff is less customization to your space or needs vs the Prusa enclosure. Openings for cable routing and filament may not be ideally placed. And acrylic or plastic panels tend to transmit more ambient noise. But for the money saved, these ready-made enclosures offer great value.

Choosing The Right Enclosure For Your Prusa i3

When selecting the optimal 3D printer enclosure for your Prusa i3 MK3S or Mini, consider these key factors:

• Budget – The official Prusa enclosure provides excellent quality at a fair price. DIY or third party versions cost much less.
• Assembly – Prefer minimal work with maximum protection? Go with the Prusa pre-built. Enjoy DIY projects? Build your own.
• Customization – The Prusa enclosure has great design tailored to their printers. DIY allows fully customized sizing and features.
• Appearance – Prusa enclosures look sleek and cohesive. DIY results will vary based on your craftsmanship.
• Portability – DIY cardboard structures are super light to transport your printer. Sturdy acrylic cases have some heft.
• Noise Reduction – The solid Prusa enclosure provides the best sound dampening. Lighter DIY versions transmit more ambient noise.

Take your needs and preferences into account when choosing the best Prusa 3D printer enclosure. Any of these great options will take your Prusa printing experience to the next level. Protect your investment while enabling printing with exotic filaments like ABS.

Additional Enclosure Tips and Accessories

Once you have your Prusa printer enclosure assembled, use these extra tips for maximum benefit:

• Place the enclosure on a sturdy base or table to minimize vibration.
• Keep doors closed while printing to maintain a steady interior temperature.
• Print brackets or hinges if needed to add stability or change door swing.
• Add LED strip lighting inside the enclosure for monitoring prints.
• Install Raspberry Pi camera(s) for remote print monitoring.
• Use small removable filters over fan intakes to keep dust out.
• Apply polyurethane sealant on DIY enclosures to minimize air leaks.

Optional accessories can also enhance your enclosure functionality:

• Filament Dryer – Dry filament prevents moisture-related print issues.
• HEPA Filter – Improve air quality and keep dust away from the extruder.
• Dehumidifier – Maintain low humidity inside the enclosure for exotic filaments.
• Air Purifier – Removes odors and fumes from printing exotic materials.
• Silicone Heater – Adds extra heat for printing with ABS and Nylon.

With the right Prusa 3D printer enclosure and accessories, you can get the most out of your Original Prusa i3 MK3S, MK2.5S, Mini, or other Prusa printer models. An enclosure both protects your investment and expands your printing capabilities. Pick the best match for your space, budget, and printing needs.