4 Choosing
Claude's pick was D with a steel plate in the base, for the look, or A for servicing and stability. I've rejected D, the tall one, though I applaud it, and I'm not putting ballast in anything. C drops out as well.
So A and B go forward: designs 1 and 2.
| Why it stays | What it needs | |
|---|---|---|
| A Sled Tower | Upright, stable without help, trays slide out, fuses behind the door | Boards are edge on from the front; one very large print |
| B Blade Rack | Best air path, smallest, quickest to print | Not upright; boards are edge on |
The brief for round 2
- No steel plates or ballast. Printed parts, the components I have, and small parts like Wagos.
- The fans have to work properly, with temperature control. An ESP32 can do it: read temperatures, drive the fans.
- A small screen on the front, showing temperatures and power draw.
- Lights inside, for the look.
The ESP32 changes the wiring. The blowers move from an always-on fuse to a switched output, and it needs a way to measure the current the boards draw. The screen and the lights take a little power and some space on the front. That's all in the next part.