French Cleat 3D Printer Cabinet with Dust Screen | ASMR | #32
Stop Wasting Wood
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I love my 3D printer (Ender 3), but it is high maintenance.
- Dust: Sawdust from the shop ruins prints.
- Drafts: Cold air warps ABS/ASA prints.
- Noise: The stepper motors sing the song of their people for 12 hours straight.
I needed a home for it. A box. A really nice box on the wall.
The Design
- Wall Mounted: To save bench space, I hung it on the French Cleat wall.
- Clear Front: I need to see the print failures (spaghetti) in real time.
- Top Feed: The filament spool sits on top of the cabinet on bearings, feeding down through a hole. This keeps the spool accessible for color changes.
Material & Tools
- 3/4" Plywood: Carcass construction.
- Acrylic Sheet: 1/4" plexiglass for the door.
- LED Strip: Lighting is crucial.
- Bearings: Skate bearings (608ZZ) for the spool roller.
The Build Process
Step 1: The Box
I used simple rabbet joints and glue/screws. The box is 20" wide x 20" deep x 24" tall.
- Venting: I drilled a 3" hole in the back and covered it with a computer fan filter. This lets the power supply breathe without sucking in sawdust.
Step 2: The Door
I built a wooden frame for the acrylic.
- Cutting Acrylic: I used a plastic-cutting blade on the table saw. Tip: Don't peel the paper backing off until AFTER you cut. It prevents chipping.
- Hinges: European style concealed hinges. They are adjustable, which is nice when your box isn't perfectly square.
Step 3: Filament Path
I 3D printed a "Filament Guide" and mounted it in the top of the cabinet. On top, I built a "roller" using two PVC pipes and designs I printed. The spool spins with almost zero friction.
Step 4: Lighting
I stuck a 12V LED strip around the inside frame. It looks like a spaceship airlock.
Conclusion
The difference is night and day.
- Noise: It is 50% quieter.
- Quality: My ABS prints stopped warping because the cabinet retains the heat from the bed.
- Cleanliness: No more sawdust in the z-axis screw.
It forces the two worlds of my shop (Analog Wood and Digital Plastic) to live in harmony.