As dozens of new 3D printers emerge within the market, seemingly every quarter, buyers are presented with quite the array of options. While many of these machines are enclosed, ensuring a controlled printing environment, about an equal number of these machines are partially or completely open to their surrounding environment.
Enclosures are a fairly important option, especially if you want to avoid some of the major issues commonly seen within the print process. With that said, even some of the better, higher quality machines out there lack an enclosure, making me wondering just how much better they could be if an enclosure would have be added.
Wonder no more, as two companies, Apogee Science and Crystal Water Designs, have just launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for their universal 3D printer enclosure called BuzzBox. Buzzbox is designed for smaller 3D printers which are constructed with an open frame. The internal dimensions of the box measure 12″ x 16″ x 11″ making it perfectly suited for printers such as the Afinia H479, Afinia H480, Tiertime Up Plus, and Tiertime Up Plus 2, among others.
Who should use BuzzBox? Anyone with a smaller 3D printer which lacks any type of enclosure, who wishes to reduce or eliminate problems such as warping, curling, cracking, noise, heat loss, and fume emissi
on. Packed full of features which we have listed below, the BuzzBox seems to be a very capable addition for all your 3D printing projects.
- Two tool holders
- Carbon activated filter system (Lower and upper inlets)
- Open source components
- Easy swing door with magnetic latches
- 3 filament spool holders
- Filament guide rod
- Rubber feet to reduce vibrations
- Laser cut acrylic design for durability
The team is looking to raise a total of $7,500 on Kickstarter to begin production of their product. In order to do so, they are making several different BuzzBox versions available for pre-sale (Kickstarter backer rewards). Starting at $275, you can pre-order the BuzzBox single door model. If you would like the double door model it will run you $375. They are also making a single door and double door version of a more feature-rich BuzzBox. These versions will run you $450 and $500, respectively, and feature an added fan kit as well as LED lighting.
If all goes as planned, and they achieve their funding goal of $7,500 (they have currently raised over $4,300, as of the time of writing, with a month left int he campaign), the first units will begin shipping sometime in June of next year.
Let us know your thoughts on this 3D printer enclosure, and whether or not you have backed this product. Discuss in the BuzzBox forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the Kickstarter pitch video below:
