SUNLU 3D Printer Enclosure: An absolutely essential accessory!

3D printers are like dust magnets; if you don’t cover them with something in a few days, they will be covered by a fine layer of particles. Moving parts are greased with vaseline, from which the dirt is difficult to remove. The SUNLU 3D Printer Enclosure offers excellent protection against dust and water and provides the constant temperature required for filaments such as ABS and CF. Also, enclosed 3D machines are generally less noisy and smelly.

The interior of the SUNLU 3D Printer Enclosure has aluminum foil padding that resists temperatures up to 800°C. The fireproof flame-retardant material avoids accidental fire and spread.

There is NO universal housing for all types of printers, but SUNLU’s tent can be used with most 3D printers with heat-bed sizes smaller than 235*235mm. It is compatible with Creality, Elegoo, Artillery, Anycubic, and other 3D printer brands. The enclosure is designed for FDM 3D printers but can also be used for resin LCD\DLP machines.

SUNLU 3D Printer Enclosure Review

Disclosure: I received this 3D cabinet as part of a product review collaboration with SUNLU. Product specs and quality may vary according to the manufacturer’s reliability, so I cannot guarantee that you will get products that perform the same as in my article.

The 3D printer enclosure from SUNLY is packed in a compact cardboard box. The scope of delivery includes 24 support rods, 12 segment couplers, eight plastic corners, and the cover. A sort of user manual is also provided that will help with the assembly part.

The white fiberglass rods are packed by size. Each bag of the three contains eight segments. The longest ones give the height of the tent, the middle ones the depth, and the shortest ones the width. When it is fully assembled, the enclosure measures about 25.6×21.6×29.5  inches (550×650×750mm).

The cover has a large zipped flap. When fully opened, it gives access for loading the printer from the top or front. The flap has a transparent window that allows you to peek inside the tent without opening the “door”. It has a small storage pocket on the right side for small tools and a zipped “maintenance” window, allowing you to operate the printer from the opposite side. On the back is a rubber-sealed hole for the power cable. No hole for an external air exhausting/purifier system.

SUNLU advertises that the case is fireproof due to the aluminum layer inside. It is hard to believe that an open fire would be kept inside the tent. Not to mention that the nylon front window is not protected by anything. For me, the aluminum foil works only as a heat reflector to keep it inside at a constant temperature and reduce heat loss.

Putting it all together and testing it!

To be packable in a small box, each segment is made of two solid fiberglass rods using a plastic coupling. After you couple them, you will get twelve long segments that need to be attached using the corner joints (see photo below).

Next, unzip the fabric cover and load the rectangular prism frame. Do it gently; you don’t want to break the plastic joints. It didn’t take me more than 15 minutes to assemble it completely, and you can do it yourself without any help.

My Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro fits comfortably inside the enclosure. There was enough room inside to move the print bed (X-axes) and load the filament spool on top of the machine.

I did the first test using ABS filament that required a 250°C nozzle, a 70°C platform, and a recommended chamber temperature between 60-70°C. After a 30-minute warm-up time inside the enclosure, the maximum temperature reached was 38 °C, which is not bad considering that the room temperature was around 23 °C. When the three-hour print job was finished, the interior temperature rose another four degrees to 42°C. Remember, when printing ABS, turning off the part cooling fan to maximize layer adhesion is recommended.

The SUNLY enclosure reduced the noise by about 5 dB, which is not much, but it is still quieter than without it.

SUNLU 3D Printer Enclosure: Key Takeaways

• [Wide 3D printer compatibility – One size fits most] Measuring 25.6×21.6×29.5  inches (550×650×750mm), it is compatible with most 3D machines with a heat-bed size smaller than 235*235mm such as the SUNLU T3, Creality Ender 3/3 Pro/3 V2/3 S1/3 S1 PRO, Elegoo Neptune 3/3 Pro, Neptune 4/4 Pro, Anycubic Kobra 2 PRO, Anycubic Mega Pro, Artillery 3D Sidewinder X3 Pro, MINGDA Magician X, and many other models
• [Constant and Homogeneous temperature] The enclosure keeps a constant temperature in the 3D printing environment, significantly improving 3D prints, especially ABS filaments. Keeps 3D prints and printers warm in a cold room.
• [Multiple Protection] Waterproof glass fabric cloth avoids the moisture effects on 3D printing quality. Aluminum foil inside resists 600°C-800°C holds heat safely. Fireproof flame-retardant material avoids accidental fire and spread. Separate space avoids dust, which affects the printing quality. The enclosure also greatly helps with the filament’s odor when heated at high temperatures.
• [User-friendly Design] The SUNLU 3D Printer Enclosure has a visible viewing window that allows you to observe the 3D printing process. On the left is a storage pocket of 8.27inch*7.48inch for 3D printer tools and accessories. A Velcro flip-up operating window on the right side allows access to the 3D printer with less heat loss.
• [Easy to Assemble and Sturdy] Easy to assemble and remove with clear instructions. It takes five minutes of quick installation with no extra tools required —a sturdy structure with fiberglass rods.

Price and availability

This 3D printer protective tent can be ordered from SUNLU for only $33.99 with 44% off during their spring sale. SUNLU also has a bigger version of its protective cover that measures 27.5*29.5*35.4 inches (700x750x900mm), and it is only $4 more expensive on Amazon.

Is there any downside to using the SUNLU enclosure?

Putting your 3D printer in an enclosure has many benefits but also some downsides. The biggest disadvantage of enclosing a 3D printer without a filtration system is the increased concentration of harmful fumes. COV and nanoparticle levels can quickly rise to toxic levels.

If you’re using PLA filaments, the high temperature around the printer can cause serious layer adhesion issues -in extreme cases, layers can collapse because the top layer remains too hot, and the next layer can’t stick to it.

Another disadvantage could be that the enclosure is significantly larger than the printer itself, and you will need a bigger table to operate the machine.

SUNLU 3D Printer Enclosure: What are the best alternatives for your money?

It is a very wide offer of 3D printer enclosures with different sizes and functionalities. Prices start at $29.99 and can go up to several hundred dollars. The Official Creality Ender 3D Printer Enclosure has similar features and almost resembles this SUNLU. There are more expensive models with a built-in LED light or exhaust fan to vent out the odor, such as the FUNGDO Multifunctional 3D Printer Tent. The DELACK 3D Printer Enclosure Kit uses plexiglass panels instead of fabric, giving full visibility inside the frame.

If you don’t want to pay for an enclosure or you don’t find one that fits your machine, you can build one.

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Since 2014, FirstQuadcopter has reviewed, thoroughly tested, and rated hundreds of products, including drones, gimbals, power stations, action cameras, 3D printers, and other high-tech gear to help you make better buying decisions.