¶ Introduction
Rat Rig provides DXF and STEP files for you to have your own panels produced locally. These are available for download on the Rat Rig V-Core 3 GitHub repository
¶ Step 1 - Prepare the enclosure panels
- 2x panel_enc2_side_'''''size'''''
- 1x panel_enc2_door_'''''size'''''
- 1x panel_enc2_top_'''''size'''''
- 1x panel_enc2_back_'''''size'''''
- Use the file with the correct '''''size''''' for your printer (200, 300, 400 or 500)
¶ Step 2 - Prepare the enclosure panel parts
- 4x Rat Rig nylon door handle
- 10x Panel magnet mount assemblies
- 8x M6x16 Cap Head Screw
- 8x M6 Nylon Locking Hex Nut
- 24x M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- 24x M6 Washer
¶ Step 3 - Assemble the door panel - Part 1
- There are 6 magnet mount positions on the door (or 4 on the 200). Repeat the following for each of them
- panel_enc2_door_'''''size'''''
- M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- M6 Washer
- Panel magnet mount assembly
- Take care not to over tighten the M6x12 screw as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 4 - Assemble the door panel - Part 2
- There are 2 handle positions on the door. Repeat the following for each of them
- panel_enc2_door_'''''size'''''
- Rat Rig nylon door handle
- M6x16 Cap Head Screw
- M6 Nylon Locking Hex Nut
- Do not overly tighten the M6 nylon locking hex nuts when securing the handles, as this can cause the panel to warp which will prevent a good seal to the printer
¶ Step 5 - Assemble the door panel - Part 3
- Completed door panel assembly
- Set the completed door assembly aside until Step 18
¶ Step 6 - Assemble the top panel
- panel_enc2_top_'''''size'''''
- Install four of the panel magnet mount assemblies to the top panel
- Take care not to over tighten the M6x12 screw as you can damage the printed parts
- Install two of the Rat Rig nylon handles to the top panel
- Do not overly tighten the M6 nylon locking hex nuts when securing the handles, as this can cause the panel to warp which will prevent a good seal to the printer
- Set the completed top assembly aside until Step 16
¶ Step 7 - Prepare the panel fasteners
- 48x M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- 48x M6 Washer
- 48x 3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6
¶ Step 8 - Assemble the side & back panels - Part 1
- panel_enc2_side_'''''size'''''
- M6 Washer
- M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- 3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6
- Loosely thread the 3030 T-Nuts onto the M6x12 screws. Do not tighten them at this point.
¶ Step 9 - Assemble the side & back panels - Part 2
- Repeat the previous steps to install an M6x12 cap head screw, M6 washer and 3030 drop-in t-nut to each hole on the remaining panels as shown
- Set all panels aside until Steps 19, 20 & 21
¶ Step 10 - Prepare the panel accessory parts
- 2x 3030_panel_mount_horizontal printed part
- 2x M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- 2x 3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6
- 10x Frame magnet mount assembly
- 1x Adhesive backed foam sealing tape
¶ Step 11 - Apply the front door foam seal
- Adhesive foam tape
- Cut sections of foam tape to fit in the sections shown
- The foam seal tape is provided with an adhesive backing, peel the backing off and apply it to the frame as shown
¶ Step 12 - Apply the top panel foam seal
- Following the instructions in the previous step, apply the foam tape around the top extrusions as well
¶ Step 13 - Assemble the horizontal 3030 panel holders (x2)
- 3030_panel_mount_horizontal printed part
- M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- 3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6
- Loosely thread the 3030 T-Nuts onto the M6x12 screws. Do not tighten them at this point.
¶ Step 14 - Install the horizontal 3030 panel holders
- Horizontal 3030 panel holder assembly from Step 13
- Align the 3030 panel holder assemblies as shown
- Tighten the M6x12 screws to secure the assemblies to the frame
- Take care not to over tighten the M6x12 screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 15 - Install the top panel magnet frame mounts
- Frame magnet mount assembly
- Position each magnet mount assembly as shown
- The marked gap should measure 6.50mm
- Tighten the M6x12 screw to secure each assembly to the frame
- Take care not to over tighten the M6x12 screws as you can damage the printed parts
- The exact position of the magnet mounts can be adjusted once the top panel in in place
¶ Step 16 - Install the top panel
- Top panel assembly from Step 6
- Place the top panel onto the top of the printer
- The magnets should align the panel automatically. If the alignment needs to be adjusted, alter the position of the magnet holders installed in Step 15
¶ Step 17 - Install the door panel magnet frame mounts
- Frame magnet mount assembly
- Position each magnet mount assembly as shown
- The marked gaps should measure 5mm
- It is easiest to align the central magnet mounts once the door panel is in place, position them roughly in the middle for now
- Tighten the M6x12 screw to secure each assembly to the frame
- Take care not to over tighten the M6x12 screws as you can damage the printed parts
- The exact position of the magnet mounts can be adjusted once the door is in place
¶ Step 18 - Install the door panel
- Door panel assembly from Step 5
- Rest the door panel on the horizontal 3030 panel mounts, then rotate towards the printer to secure it
- The magnets should align the panel automatically. If the alignment needs to be adjusted, alter the position of the magnet holders installed in Step 17
¶ Step 19 - Install the rear enclosure panel
- Rear enclosure panel from Step 9
- Align the panel to the frame as shown
- Secure the panel in place by fastening the ten M6x12 screws
¶ Step 20 - Install the right enclosure panel
- Right enclosure panel from Step 9
- Align the panel to the frame as shown
- Secure the panel in place by fastening the nineteen M6x12 screws
¶ Step 21 - Install the left enclosure panel
- Left enclosure panel from Step 9
- Align the panel to the frame as shown
- Secure the panel in place by fastening the nineteen M6x12 screws
¶ Step 22 - Optional Extras
- Rat Rig has developed, and provide, a set of optional extra printed parts for the V-Core 3 Enclosure 2.0
- Parts available include:
- Panel trims for the exterior of the enclosure
- A brand-new, side-mounted, printable spool holder
- A rear shelf, designed to sit above the electronics and help fully enclose the print volume
- The rear shelf printed parts were replaced with CNC cut panels in the original kit, since February 2024. Note: ''The V-Core 3.1 200 still ships with a printed rear shelf.''
- Other miscellaneous parts
- Parts can be found on the V-Core 3 project pages and the Rat Rig Lab site
¶ Step 23 - Prepare the rear shelf parts
- The rear shelf printed parts were replaced with CNC cut panels in the original kit, since February 2024. Except for the V-Core 3.1 200, as the panel is much smaller.
- The V-Core 3.1 300 has a single panel instead of two split panels, the assembly steps are the same:
- 2x VC31_panel_shelf
- 4x shelf_support printed part
- 4x M6 Nylon Locking Hex Nut
- 8x M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- 4x 3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6
- M6 Washer
¶ Step 24 - Assemble the rear shelfs - Part 1
- shelf_support printed part
- M6 Nylon Locking Hex Nut
- Assemble 4 shelf support printed parts.
- VC31_panel_shelf
- M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- M6 Washer
- Shelf support assembly
¶ Step 25 - Assemble the rear shelves - Part 2
- Rear shelf assembly from the previous step.
- 2x M6x12 Cap Head Screw
- 2x M6 Washer
- 2x 3030 Drop-in T-Nut - M6
- Repeat Steps 24 and 25 and assemble another rear shelf (if applicable).
¶ Step 26 - Install the rear shelves
- Insert the rear shelf assembly as shown
- The M6 Cap Head Should be inserted inside the shelf_support printed part
- Tighten the M6x12 cap head screws
- Repeat and install the other rear shelf assembly
¶ Step 27 - Filament Routing
- It is recommended to use a length of PTFE tube to route the filament into the enclosure as shown
¶ Step 28 - Next guide
- Continue with the next guide: 12. Wiring, Firmware & RatOS