Plans for new enclosure - Advice welcommed and wanted!

[SliK JiM]

I'll start by saying that I'm in a very odd situation, and won't be able to get the enclosure I'm building into it's place without it being built in place, but due to the size of it, that won't be possible. So, I've decided to build it in panels, that I'll assemble in place after that.

The enclosure is going to be 1.2m x 0.8m x 1.8m (width x depth x height) and the enclosure will be 30cm off the floor.

I've built it so that I'll put the base down in place (Ignore the stuff in the middle of the frame of the base, I was just experimenting with the software I have to see what it could do) - pic 1

Then, the sides will slot into place, and I'll bolt through the front and back of the base into each side piece into the inside frame part - see pics 2 and 3

Then, the top will slot onto both sides and similarly to the bottom, I'll bolt these into place - pic 4

The structure should be sturdy anyway due to the idea of the frame (with the square bars not being able to rotate so there'll be no slanting), but the back piece will be a solid piece of plywood that will screw into all the frames and make sure everything is locked into place

The doors will then be attached to the front with simple hinges - pic 5

 

[SliK JiM]

I couldn't fit this picture in the last post so I had to split it into another post!

This is just a picture of the exploded view and how it all fits together!

All the wood is going to be stained and treated so it should be splash proof, and the bottom will be made of polystyrene/styrofoam covered with a mortar/grout mix so it'll be completely watertight and the water should all drain away down the middle (or wherever I decide to put the outflow pipe)

The mesh on the sides/top/doors is going to be an aluminium mesh as it is very strong and is great for viewing through!

The reason I'm posting is to see if anyone can suggest any things I may have overlooked or if there is anything I can do to improve my design.

Cheers all
p.s - the build won't be for a while yet!
p.p.s - sorry they're not the most thrilling pics, but they're the best to show what I mean!

 

[reyesjoshuacruz]

add another support piece to the inside top panel ( or two, or three)

that way you can place things outside ontop of the cage and not buckle the screen, plus you can use them inside the cage to hang things here and there

 

[SliK JiM]

Cool! That's exactly the sort of thinking I was after! Definitely got to do something about that!

Any more welcome!

 

[rachelk]

It looks great! You could also add some corner shelves in it for the cham to sit on or to place a dripper on, etc. I wish I had added corner shelves in mine...

 

[SliK JiM]

Excellent, another good suggestion! The only problem is that with the design I've built, I don't know how I'd fix a shelf in there! The back is not really that thick, it's just there to give a bit of structural rigidity and keep some of the heat in. The sides are mainly mesh, and the wood for the supports is only 34mm x 34mm, so it could take a few screws and brackets, but nothing to support a major weight and the resulting angular force it'd probably create. I'll think about it though as they'd be pretty useful!

I was going to use PVC coated hooks/circles in there to tie vines/wood to.

 

[mismo2]

looks great, got to love inventor makes building projects so much easier!

 

[haleybobl]

Excellent, another good suggestion! The only problem is that with the design I've built, I don't know how I'd fix a shelf in there!

How about attaching a support brace throughout the cage (towards the corner) that would attach to a top support brace and the bottom. That way you could support shelves in the coner with that, and the back. Make sense? I don't have time to draw a diagram right now, but I had to do a similar thing in another cage I had.

 

[SliK JiM]

How about attaching a support brace throughout the cage (towards the corner) that would attach to a top support brace and the bottom. That way you could support shelves in the coner with that, and the back. Make sense? I don't have time to draw a diagram right now, but I had to do a similar thing in another cage I had.

You mean from top right to bottom left say? Might be tricky trying to fit it in! don't know if I'd have the space to join it! I might put some supports along the whole back piece. Just put a couple of horizontals on in, then use a t-bracket to join it. I'm tempted by making a sculpted background thing (using the same idea as the base! May be a little tricky with how it fits together, but it may well be worth it as it'll give me a lot of place to put plants and attach wood etc.

 

[SliK JiM]

looks great, got to love inventor makes building projects so much easier!

Missed this message the first time! It's solid edge (but exactly the same as inventor!). So handy when you want to change something! Just bash in the variable change and it'll work out the rest for you!

 

[haleybobl]

You mean from top right to bottom left say? Might be tricky trying to fit it in! don't know if I'd have the space to join it! I might put some supports along the whole back piece. Just put a couple of horizontals on in, then use a t-bracket to join it. I'm tempted by making a sculpted background thing (using the same idea as the base! May be a little tricky with how it fits together, but it may well be worth it as it'll give me a lot of place to put plants and attach wood etc.

Best way I can explain it without drawing, like a fire station pole. If you are going to put supports up on the top, you could attach a vertical wise support towards the corner and attach shelves from there.

 

[SliK JiM]

Best way I can explain it without drawing, like a fire station pole. If you are going to put supports up on the top, you could attach a vertical wise support towards the corner and attach shelves from there.

Cool! I think I get what you mean!

I was thinking last night that maybe I should make it a little bigger, and partition it so I can put another cham in there! I am planning to get a panther soon!

 

[tryme]

great looking plan my friend. Lets see how it goes