Need an enclosure for your desktop 3D printer? Consider Clura.
Clura is an open-source design for a universal desktop 3D printer enclosure. Enclosures are desirable because they capture heat, thus reducing the thermal gradient between the freshly extruded material and ambient air. In other words, less warping.
With less warping, you gain more ability to print higher temperature materials, such as ABS, ASA, PA, etc. Those are highly desirable for end-use parts as they tend to be more durable and stronger than PLA and PETG.
Clura was developed by TU Delft student Fabrizio Blasio, who was seeking a better solution. He writes:
“I’ve poured hundreds of hours into this project by squeezing in work between classes and exams, but for me, it’s been worth it. Health and safety in 3D printing don’t get the attention they deserve, and I hope this enclosure changes that by creating an option that’s affordable and useful.”
The problem Blasio encountered was 3D printer emissions. When operating a FFF 3D printer, the heat in the nozzle causes the material to emit nanoparticles and VOCs, both of which are not healthy. This is particularly bad for open-gantry 3D printers, which are the lowest cost option these days. Blasio said:
“I’ve been obsessed with 3D printing for years. But there was always one big problem: printing in my room made the air quality unbearable. I either had to stop printing or buy an expensive enclosure—neither of which is ideal when you’re a student living on a tight budget.”
This makes sense — but it is very likely true for countless people worldwide who have installed an open gantry 3D printer in a room in their home. Some have even placed them in bedrooms, where they can emit particles all night long, breathed in by unsuspecting sleepers. A bedroom is the absolute worst place to locate a 3D printer.
Blasio has designed Clura to be modular, and that’s quite important. Many desktop 3D printer operators will swap machines, upgrade, expand, or otherwise change their configuration, and you don’t want to be buying a new enclosure each time. Here, Clura can adapt as you change machines.
Clura includes an integrated air quality meter, something I haven’t seen on any enclosure. The meter measures VOCs and PM2.5 particles, along with temperature and humidity. There is also the possibility of a smoke detector system.
There is a dual-layer HEPA filter system to collect emissions and particles, including ultrafine particles.
Something that most 3D printers suffer from, particularly those placed in enclosures, is darkness. Open-gantry machines are easy to observe — there are no walls. But enclosures make it dark, and you’re unable to see what’s going on. Here, Clura includes an RGB lighting system to ensure full visibility.
There is a built-in load cell that can dynamically estimate the amount of filament left on a spool. That could be extremely useful, as some desktop machines still do not include filament run-out sensors.
A cooling fan can be automatically triggered to maintain a consistent chamber temperature. Some materials print poorly if the chamber is too hot, and that won’t happen here.
Clura officially supports Prusa MK3x and Bambu Lab A series machines, but it’s very likely many others will also work just fine in this enclosure.
It’s made from a strong aluminum frame and uses PC transparent panels for the walls, ensuring visibility.
The project is entirely open source, and you will be able to build one of these on your own. It also seems that you will be able to buy the parts for Clura in the near future.
Clura will eventually appear as a Kickstarter campaign, but you can join a “pre Kickstarter” campaign for some extra perks for a small amount of money. There’s no word on pricing or availability yet.
Via Clura
