Dec 16, 2014 | By Simon
Despite the convenience of having a desktop 3D printer, the common problems that can arise with owning and maintaining the printer leave much to be desired. Among them include tool storage, heat loss, fumes, noise, curling edges, crackling and ultimately, warped prints.
Aiming to solve this problem in a one-size-fits-all package, Apogee Science and Crystal Water Designs, the makers behind the BuzzBox, just might have found the perfect solution.
Designed to help product designers, makers, inventors and 3D printing enthusiasts maintain the quality of their 3D prints, the BuzzBox is the world's first customizable enclosure system the combines a material and tool storage solution along with a heat and air filtration system to keep everything contained and operating smoothly.
With internal dimensions measuring in at 12" x 16" x 11" (304 x 406 x 279 mm), the enclosure size won't fit all desktop 3D printers, however it will fit many of the small format 3D printers that exist on the market today. Among them include the Make Magazine-approved Afinia H479, the Afinia H480, the Tiertime Up Plus, and the Tiertime Up Plus 2.
Regardless of which 3D printer ends up going inside the BuzzBox, the creators have designed the parts to be mixed and matched for customization. Additionally, all of the hardware parts are open source (excluding the acrylic components) for even further customization.
The creators have also designed the BuzzBox to be as easy to use as possible, such as including the addition of magnetic door latches, open cable access, open pin hinges, ease of filter replacement, and rubber grip feet considerations.
Among other features included with the BuzzBox include multiple tool holders that are able to store printer base plates, a caliper, screwdrivers, plastic cutting chisels, side cutters, scrapers and more. The box is also capable of storing up to three spools of filament using a universal filament reel holder adapter. The universal design allows for users to add whichever brand of filament they want without worrying about compatibility.
As for the rest of the BuzzBox, the passive air filtering system allows for heat generated from the printing process to be captured and released through a carbon filter while still retaining the appropriate temperature inside the box needed for high-quality prints.
With over 5 prototypes having been built and tested over the past year, Apogee Science and Crystal Water Designs have placed their manufacturing order with a final prototype that is built and fully functional. They are currently seeking funding on Kickstarter with a campaign goal of $7,500. If they meet their goal, the BuzzBox will start shipping in June of 2015.
If you've been needing an all-in-one enclosure to help maintain the quality of your prints and keep your 3D print-related tools in one place, the BuzzBox just might be the perfect solution for all of your desktop fabrication needs. You can purchase one starting at $275 over on Kickstarter.
Posted in 3D Printer Accessories
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Simon - Thanks for the article! I'm the designer of BuzzBox and it's something that friends and I have been working on for almost a year now. We used to take a cardboard box with a cutout door on it to improve ABS prints, it's come a long way since! Andreas - I appreciate the concern. We built a prototype earlier this year that is still in use today, hundreds of prints with an Afinia H479, with no failures to report. To give some background, the monitored average internal temperature of the enclosure during a print is anywhere from 85 to 110 degrees fahrenheit. Most commercial electronics are made for operation not to exceed 158 degrees fahrenheit or they may experience premature failure. For those that are concerned, we are actively building a lighting and fan kit as an add-on to the enclosure, from there you can set the desired air-flow required for the print job at-hand. How smart are these designers? Respectfully, we got our start building military grade electronics and mechanical designs. Over 50 years of combined industry experience. We are constantly looking for ways to improve the product, any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Andreas wrote at 12/17/2014 10:11:01 AM:
How smart are these designers? I very well understand that having an enclosed box for your printing space is a very good idea to keep the heat contained and controlled (Reduce warping and mechanical error thru material expansion in the printer construction and increase power efficiency). But placing the complete Printer inside that box does at the same time increase the heat around the electronics and motors. As we all know cheap consumer printers (like the afinia / pp3dp up and clones) use consumer grade parts that are not built for high temperature operation. So, this Box could very well kill your printers electronics prematurely or drastically reduce the torque of the motors due to thermal demagentization. Buyer beware!
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