If your Ender 3 Pro is facing issues such as warping, dust collection, and fluctuating temperatures, it’s time to get an enclosure for your printer. It will protect your printer and significantly improve your print results. So, maximize your Ender 3 Pro’s potential with the right enclosure!
The Ender 3 Pro is the improved version of Creality’s Ender 3. It is budget-friendly and features a compact design with a great print volume.
In addition, you can enhance its performance and functionality by adding features such as a silent mainboard, auto-bed leveling, and LED strips.
A 3D printer enclosure for your Ender 3 Pro is a must-have among all the upgrades.
An enclosure shelters the printer from all external factors and helps to maintain a consistent temperature while printing.
These conditions are necessary for materials like ABS and ASA because they prevent warping or cracking.
Overall, you will find that the enclosure enhances the print quality.
There are a few enclosures on the market at various price points that are compatible with your Ender 3 Pro. Each has a distinct feature, so you can choose which to buy based on your requirements.
Alternatively, you can build your 3D printer enclosure out of a table or a shelf.
This will open up a wide range of customization options, as you will have control over its design, features, and parts.
All you need to do is source all the materials and start building them.
Benefits of Enclosing the Ender 3 Pro
Your Ender 3 Pro’s performance can improve greatly with the help of an enclosure. With it, you can produce higher-quality prints, minimize printing noise, create a safe printing environment, and keep moisture out.
Improved Print Quality and Accuracy
In several ways, an enclosure can improve print quality and accuracy. One way is to create a stable and controlled environment within the enclosure’s chamber.
These conditions keep the temperature consistent and eliminate the possibility of defects such as warping and stringing. In addition, as a result of a well-maintained print environment and appropriate temperature, you may notice improved layer adhesion.
You can curb humidity, too, by monitoring the temperature inside the enclosure. Because of this, you can print materials such as Nylon without fear of the 3D-printed part becoming brittle or dimensionally inaccurate.
Enhanced Safety and Protection of The Printer and Prints
An enclosure provides safety and protection primarily by keeping undesired elements out while preventing accidents.
Aside from avoiding moisture, it is also critical to avoid dust from interfering with your printer.
Initially, dust collection may appear to be a minor issue, and you may clear it off the surface of your printer. But, the dust collected over time may cause the nozzle to clog, resulting in improper filament extrusion.
When a 3D printing filament such as ABS melts, it produces by-products such as hazardous fumes. The enclosure not only protects your printer and prints, but it also shields you from potentially harmful fumes and particles.
Reduced Noise and Vibration
The noise from the printer’s moving components can be extremely distracting during the printing process.
Enclosing the printer can significantly reduce noise, making it a more bearable yet pleasant experience for the user and those nearby.
Furthermore, the enclosure helps to dampen vibration, which improves print quality and reduces the possibility of defects like ringing or ghosting.
Improved Filament Drying and Storage
Due to hygroscopy, your 3D printed parts can easily become brittle and have bubbles or blobs in the print layers.
These problems can be pretty bothersome as they affect all kinds of filament materials, producing a poor print quality.
By enclosing the printer, it is possible to create a controlled environment with reduced humidity, which helps to keep the filament dry and prevents moisture absorption.
Another positive aspect of enclosing your 3D printer is that it is possible to create a storage area for multiple filaments if you get a sizable enclosure.
This space can help keep the filaments organized, making it easy for you to grab any filament while needed.
Now that you’re familiar with all the main benefits an enclosure provides, let’s look at the top enclosure kits for sale and three free alternatives!
Top Ender 3 Pro Enclosure Kits
There are quite a few purchasable enclosure kits that are readily available for the Ender 3 Pro.
The best part about these is that their design makes them easy to assemble and install.
So you can have your printer up and running in a safe environment in no time.
Creality Ender 3 Pro Enclosure Kit
The Creality Ender 3 Pro Enclosure Kit is Creality’s tent-like cover option for your 3D printer.
It uses iron pipes and fabric with an aluminum film lining coated with flame-retardant material.
A strong point of this enclosure is that the installation is straightforward. All you need to do is assemble its metal frame, cover it with the enclosure fabric, and zip it up.
Apart from this, the cover’s fabric is waterproof and windproof from the outside and fireproof from the inside. Due to this, you can effectively control the ambient temperature inside the enclosure.
Another notable point is that you will find plenty of space inside the enclosure and above your printer. Here you can easily install your filament holder and store your spool, keeping it safe and moisture free.
Accessibility to the backside of the printer could be a potential issue you could face with this kit.
Also, while the enclosure surrounds the printer from all sides, it only lets you peek inside from the front through a transparent plastic window.
The Creality Ender 3 Pro Enclosure Kit has received positive reviews from many users, who have reported improved print quality and accuracy and reduced warping and noise.
Overall, it is a popular choice for those looking to cover their Ender 3 Pro.
3D UpFitters
The enclosure by 3D UpFitters is a completely clear acrylic case you can assemble using 3D printed parts (print these yourself or add them to your purchase).
One interesting thing is that the control panel and the power supply are both situated outside the cover.
The external control panel makes it easier to give inputs to the printer without opening the enclosure.
This enclosure surely ticks all the boxes of maintaining a controlled environment for your Ender 3 Pro.
However, it also provides tons of add-ons and customization options. You can include multiple options, such as a spool holder, a temperature gauge, or an air filter.
You can also find two hinged doors on the enclosure that gives you easy access to the printer and the printed part. Plus, the acrylic case is completely transparent, giving you a complete view of your printer from every direction.
A potential disadvantage of this enclosure is that it can be a bit more expensive than other solutions.
However, if you need something more durable and customizable, 3D UpFitters can be the right fit for your printer.
HotBox – 3D Printer Enclosure
The HotBox, as the name suggests, is a box-like enclosure made with nylon 600D fabric with an inner fire-resistant coating.
This material helps maintain the internal temperature of the box.
For greater accessibility to your Ender 3 Pro within the HotBox, you can unzip and lift the front and the top of the enclosure.
However, if you want to take out your 3D printed part, all you have to do is open the front flap, which is secured using Velcro.
This enclosure also possesses various passages for filaments and a single air filter.
You can cover these up when not in use, using a plug or cover to keep out contaminants.
The HotBox also features a built-in thermometer, which gives you an upper hand in temperature control and monitoring. All these make it easy to maintain the optimal printing environment.
Multiple users have used this enclosure while printing ABS, ASA, and even Nylon.
Many have had a positive printing experience where they have observed remarkable improvements in their 3D printed objects.
Three Free Ender 3 Pro Enclosure Alternatives
If you don’t wish to splurge on a branded Ender 3 Pro enclosure kit, DIY-ing one is the way to go!
With these free alternatives, such as using an old table, a shelf, or a tent, you can create some great enclosures.
Old Tables
Do you have an old table lying around the house or in storage?
With a bit of creativity and some handy tools, you can build a functional and cost-effective enclosure for your Ender 3 Pro.
With the table serving as a sturdy platform to mount the printer and its components.
All you need to build it is your table, acrylic sheets, hinges, nuts, bolts, and a door handle.
The first step to building the table enclosure would be to check whether your printer’s and table’s dimensions fit well together.
Then you can use your acrylic and enclose it from all sides and top, creating an environment with controlled conditions.
If desired, this enclosure allows you to add extra features such as temperature control, a spool holder, and filament storage. Additionally, you can easily modify and customize the table to meet your specific needs and preferences.
Shelf
To use a shelf, you will need to find a large, sturdy shelf that can house your Ender 3 Pro.
This shelf should have enough space for the print bed to move freely.
Many shelves have a bit of a wobble, so ensure you get a completely stable one. Any form of unnecessary shelf movement can cause print defects.
A shelf is usually open from all faces, so you will need to use some cover for the enclosure. Again, materials like wood and acrylic will work well for this case.
Allotting the topmost level of the shelf to your printer, you can use the bottom ones to store all kinds of essential components, tools, and parts.
Moreover, you can also enclose any of the bottom levels of the shelf to store your filament spools. This way, you can keep your filaments moisture free.
Tent
A tent is another free option you can use to cover your Ender 3 Pro.
It may not be ideal for providing complete noise isolation or keeping moisture out.
It can, however, be quite effective at keeping dust out and maintaining chamber temperatures.
To use a tent, you will first need to build a frame for the tent to fit around.
Afterward, you have to stitch together a plastic tent (polyester works well). For easy accessibility to the printer, you can also add zippers to your tent.
Once your enclosure is ready, you can place the printer inside the tent and zip it closed, creating a sealed environment.
Conclusion
Enclosing your 3D printer can provide numerous benefits that can improve the quality of your prints while protecting your printer from various external factors.
With a variety of options available, from highly popular purchasable enclosures to free alternatives, there is something to suit every budget and printing need.
The key is to choose a solution that provides appropriate stability, accessibility, and temperature control.
With this comprehensive buying guide, you can easily decide on the perfect enclosure for your Ender 3 Pro. Buy it or build it, you will surely enjoy the benefits of a controlled and safe 3D printing environment.