I would like to enclose my printer to keep the dust out, and to be able to ventilate out the PLA funk, and down the road to control the temp so that I can print with other filaments.
I got the sides and back figured out, and have a plan for the front. What got me tripped up is the top cover and how to deal with the filament. I have seen a flat cover with just a Bowden feeder on it, ala Folgertech. I have also seen fancier taller covers with a reverse Bowden feed and the spool on the side of the printer, both here and another site.
With just a flat cover and Bowden feed in I worry that the angle from the filament to the print head is too sharp and that when the head goes all the way back and then forward the filament will be in the way. The tall cover with the reverse Bowden looks ok.
What I was thinking of doing is putting a slightly taller cover that opens and locating the spool inside the enclosed printer. The angle to the extruder can be optimized for length forward and back. Excess filament during travel with loosely spool up, filament will be nice and toasty during printing, minimizing dust, temp and moisture issues. I would also like to use the taller cover for filters and a exhaust port location to take away the PLA funk.
I have searched both here and on the web and have not seen anyone do that. So maybe this is a bad idea. Any thoughts?
Also am I overthinking the issue with a Bowden feed thru and a flat cover?
How is the heat build up handled inside? Just venting or is there a flow control needed?
Thank you.
