After taking advantage of Black Friday deals, we picked up a Shapeoko XL to start exploring desktop CNC machining. Garage workshop space was limited, so we ended up housing the machine in our bedroom/office and designed an enclosure to contain dust and cut down on noise.
Design and original plan
The original design featured a wide framed door that lifted up into a pocket at the top. Being honest about our intermediate woodworking skills, we opted for a simpler approach instead. The original Fusion 360 file is available for anyone who wants to attempt the fancier version.
Enclosure specifications
The finished enclosure has an interior area of 48" × 26" × 24" (L x W x H).
Construction
Cutting and finishing panels
- All panels were cut using a straight edge and circular saw
- Sanded with a random orbit sander up to 220 grit
- Interior panels painted white to maximize internal lighting
Assembly
- A Kreg pocket hole jig and wood glue built the five walls
- Front doors have acrylic panel cutouts for visibility
Features
- LED strip lighting for better visibility
- A vacuum hose fitting mounted through one wall for quick disconnection
- A simple pine latch with a piano hinge to secure the doors
- Removable design so it can be relocated if needed
This isn't a professional enclosure design, but it does the job of containing dust while we build up our CNC skills.