Planning to print your own enclosure for esk8?

Worrying about joints and general 3d printing finishing?

Here are some ideas for you.

 

Why it’s a good thing?

Like in all 3d printing applications, you can customize everything, make space for insides, integrate any opening, and iterate until you're happy.

Basically, making it your own.

 

It’s also a full way DIY, which is never a bad thing.

 

What about the size?

If your printer can make full-sized enclosures, I officially envy you.

For the rests of us, we print in sections.

 

With sections, the challenge is the joints, that will be structural and still look nice.

This can take time and printing trials, but there's a simpler way.

As long as you don't mind relative ugliness on one side.

 

I can live with moderate mess inside the enclosure, so this is a perfect opportunity to show the process.
(**This method also works for fixing and reinforcing broken plastic parts)

 

The design

My enclosure is for single motor Jet Spud, holds 10s3p battery, Focbox, BMS, wiring and other small stuff. It includes opening for loop key, charging port, voltage screen and motor leads.

It is a single stack design and has enough room for all the wiring and padding.

 

I made it in Fusion 360, it's straight cut into 4 pieces. The files can be found here.

closure11
closure22

All the pieces are printed.

The following is the process I used to make super cool looking enclosure.

The starting pieces and the final platform
The starting pieces and the final platform

Step 1 - Glue all the pieces together

Attach all the pieces together with super glue.

It's kinda long process, lot's of patience.
(Let's face it, 3 sec setting time for crazy glue is bs...)

Align the pieces as best as you can.

Take your time and glue everything together
Take your time and glue everything together

Step 2 - find your best wipes in the house

Locate the the best wet wipes you have in the house, and dry a couple of them (just set them aside for a day).
You need the strong-fibery kind. Baby wipes work as well, just use the ones which you can’t tear easily.

The ones that I used
The ones that I used

Take your dried wipes and cut strips.

Lightly sand the joints on the inside. Apply the strips along the joints and soak with super glue.

Allow to dry, the bond is surprisingly strong with this method.

Ugly, yes, but strong.

20190704_214119
20190704_215101
20190704_220355
20190706_143140

Step 3 - fill the gaps

Here's the thing, the printed plastic pieces don't have clean edges when it comes to getting off printing bed. They shrink and warp:

20190708_223212
20190708_223221

You did your best in the previous step, now it's time to bring the big guns and fill those gaps. I used JB Weld Plastic Bonder, does an excellent job.

Take your time with this one, fill all the voids that should not be there.

gap1
gap3
gap2
gap4

Step 4 - Sanding

Not a lot to say here, take your sanding block, some 200 grit sanding paper and get to work.

Sand off those gap filled ridges and anything else that sticks out and doesn't belong.

 

Do use the sanding block, with long strokes.

Don't sand too quickly, take breaks, otherwise you might heat up and deform the plastic.

 

The finished piece should be smooth to the touch.

Finish with 400 grit sandpaper and dust off all the sand dust.

20190710_101353
20190710_110809

As the last phase here, check that everything fits as it should:

20190710_133956

Step 5 - spraying with (truck) bed coating

This is the step where everything comes together and makes it worth it.

Just spray it. In several passes. Allow the coating to dry in between.

Don't flood the enclosure or you'll get oozing marks (ask me how I know).

 

The result is well worth it, it becomes textured and conceals all the sanding and transitions.

20190710_134723
20190710_140522
20190710_152218
20190710_152209

Check the fit and finish. You can definitely show it off!

Fits nicely onto the Spud
Fits nicely onto the Spud

That's it!
Now you can finish your esk8 with the new enclosure.

 

Let me know what you think in the comments, I would love to hear your best tips and practices.

 

Enjoy,
Dani

 

Make sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram.