Flashforge Adventurer 5M - DIY Enclosure MOD (minimal version)

UPDATE 2024-06-28 I tested the enclosure and made the first print with a 3 year old FILOALFA ABS filament at 265/100 using “Flashforge generic ABS” profile in OrcaSlicer (0.6 nozzle, 0.3LH, 15% infill - 28 minutes print) and the print came out fine. I took some temperature readings during the print and I think I'm going in the right direction…I'll reprint the drag-chain with PETG and change the lid with a plexiglass or polycarbonate sheet for now.

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NOTE: This is a prototype and a work in progress. The panels that you see in the photos are just what I had available and was easy to cut with a Stanley knife (3mm expanded pvc sheet and 2 mm transparent polystyrene sheet) and could change in the future for something better and more rigid.

I decided to buy the 5M because is a great printer at an affordable price, and I didn't want to spend 200€ more for the 5M Pro that basically adds an enclosure.

I saw the DIY Kit published by Flashforge and I liked it, but 2 KGs of filament and 2 whole days of printing is too much waste for me.

I remixed the STEP files provided, and cut what I thought wasn't necessary.

I re-designed the risers from the ground up, trying to keep the screen in the original position and maintain USB functionality (you can use a Nano/Mini USB Drive).

Items that you have to print from the original DIY enclosure:

• 1 front door handle
• 2 hinges
• 6 magnet holders

Extra items that you need for the risers:

• 20 M3 threaded inserts to mount the panels (or use washers and nylon locking-nuts from the other side)
• 3 panels for the front and sides  (27,3 x 9 cm - 3mm thickness)
• 1 panel for the rear with a notch at the bottom for the filament sensor cable (29,7 x 9 cm - 3 mm thickness)
• 1 panel for the lid (33,2 x 34,1 cm - 3mm thickness)
• 20 M3x10mm bolts
• 4 DIN7981 3,5x19mm self-tapping screws for fixing the risers to the top frame (or print the version that uses the original screws)

You can mount the guard plates using the instructions provided by Flashforge as reference (the screws and bolts that they suggest to use are basically unobtainable locally and I didn't want to place a special order, so I used what I could find at the hardware store - Leroy Merlin, OBI, BricoCenter)

Dimensions and hole position for the front and side panels are the same as the kit:

• front panel 28,3 x 33,3 cm - 3mm thickness
• side panel (x2) 27,3 x 36,9 cm - 3mm thickness

When making the holes on the front panel, I had to shift the hole position by 3mm UPWARD (the first hole for the door handle is at 107mm instead of 110 - the first hole for the hinges start at 18,5mm instead of 21,5). 

If you want to close the gap at the top (see photo) or avoid to remix and print the “shielding plate” too, you have to measure and adjust accordingly before drilling. I'll leave it like that for now, and use the gap as ventilation.

The risers leave a 90mm space between the top frame and the lid (same as the DIY enclosure), so you can print the drag chain provided in the kit.

I saw the version made by @OssieP_1736175 (https://www.printables.com/model/803476-version-2-with-ptfe-guideholder-drag-chain-kit-fla) and I used that one instead because I think is better.

I printed everything with Flashforge HS PLA (gray) and Overture TURBO PLA (black) with a 0.6 nozzle and 0.3 LH  at 15% infill (sliced with OrcaSlicer 2.1.0).