<p>It depends on what kinds of prints you make, and especially what kind of materials you want to use.</p>
<p>Certain materials (ABS especially, but also PETG to some degree) will print <em>much better</em> if the entire build area, which usually includes the printer chassis and controls, is enclosed to protect from drafts and allow a much higher ambient temperature.</p>
<p>If you print often with these materials, and the control board is included in that enclosed area, you <em><strong>will</strong></em> significantly reduce the life of the electronic components, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague" rel="nofollow noreferrer">especially the capacitors on the board</a><sup>1</sup>.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you print mainly with PLA, which is not as susceptible to issues requiring an enclosure, and prints better with an ambient temperature closer to room temperature, you can put the electronic controls wherever you want.</p>
<hr />
<p><sub>1 See especially this excerpt from the section on &quot;Premature Failure&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Electrolytic capacitors that operate at a lower temperature can have a considerably longer lifespan.
</sub></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-05T16:53:08.513Z
2020-08-06T13:47:47.323Z
2020-08-06T13:47:47.323Z
Joel Coehoorn
<p>This guy placed the whole Ender in a 100C environment but he emphasises how important it is to leave the electronics cool:</p>
<p><div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/79r5D9nCQfM?start=1216"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T19:20:32.760Z
2020-10-30T19:20:32.760Z
FarO
<p>I am building an enclosure for an Ender 3 Pro printer, and am planning on the power supply and LCD unit being outside the enclosure.  How important is it to move the printer controller (where the SD card is inserted) outside the enclosure?
Would leaving it in place affect its longevity?</p>
<p>Answers to the first round of comments/questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>I expect to be primarily printing in the 200C-270C range.</li>
<li>I'm not worried about losing heat from opening the doors - I'll be putting the SD card in prior to initiating printing.</li>
<li>I'm thinking the stepper motors are somewhat of a moot point, there's no way I could move them outside of the enclosure.</li>
<li>My printer is all stock.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-04T17:05:01.143Z
What will the temp inside the enclosure be? Is that safe for your board? Will opening the enclosure to load the SD card release your warm air?
Davo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-04T17:54:18.980Z
It's not just a question of lifetime of the board, but whether the high temps might cause failed prints due to stepper drivers shutting down from overheating or other similar issues.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-04T20:03:04.983Z
Also depends on the drivers used - how much heat the drivers will add. Still using the stock board?
towe
<creality-ender-3><electronics><enclosure>
How important is it to move the printer's controller board outside of an enclosure?
Mike Hedman
# How important is it to move the printer's controller board outside of an enclosure?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-04)

I am building an enclosure for an Ender 3 Pro printer, and am planning on the power supply and LCD unit being outside the enclosure. How important is it to move the printer controller (where the SD card is inserted) outside the enclosure?
Would leaving it in place affect its longevity?

Answers to the first round of comments/questions:

* I expect to be primarily printing in the 200C-270C range.
* I'm not worried about losing heat from opening the doors - I'll be putting the SD card in prior to initiating printing.
* I'm thinking the stepper motors are somewhat of a moot point, there's no way I could move them outside of the enclosure.
* My printer is all stock.

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, electronics, enclosure
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What will the temp inside the enclosure be? Is that safe for your board? Will opening the enclosure to load the SD card release your warm air?  
> **username_2**: It's not just a question of lifetime of the board, but whether the high temps might cause failed prints due to stepper drivers shutting down from overheating or other similar issues.  
> **username_3**: Also depends on the drivers used - how much heat the drivers will add. Still using the stock board?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-08-05. Score: 2

It depends on what kinds of prints you make, and especially what kind of materials you want to use.

Certain materials (ABS especially, but also PETG to some degree) will print *much better* if the entire build area, which usually includes the printer chassis and controls, is enclosed to protect from drafts and allow a much higher ambient temperature.

If you print often with these materials, and the control board is included in that enclosed area, you ***will*** significantly reduce the life of the electronic components, [especially the capacitors on the board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague)1.

On the other hand, if you print mainly with PLA, which is not as susceptible to issues requiring an enclosure, and prints better with an ambient temperature closer to room temperature, you can put the electronic controls wherever you want.

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1 See especially this excerpt from the section on "Premature Failure":

> Electrolytic capacitors that operate at a lower temperature can have a considerably longer lifespan.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2020-10-30. Score: 0

This guy placed the whole Ender in a 100C environment but he emphasises how important it is to leave the electronics cool:


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