Drawingbot Enclosure STL File: 3D-Printed DexArm Drawing Box Plans
A bare robot arm sitting on a folding table might impress your engineering friends, but it’s not going to cut it at a corporate gala or a branded activation. The arm swings, cables dangle, and guests aren’t sure if they should get close or keep a safe distance. That’s the gap an enclosure fills — it transforms raw hardware into a polished, professional experience that looks intentional, feels safe, and gives you surfaces to brand.
We’ve designed and iterated on enclosures across dozens of builds and hundreds of live events. The DexArm drawing box STL file we’re going to walk through here is the result of all that trial and error — an enclosure specifically engineered for the DexArm robot arm’s range of motion, paper feed requirements, and camera positioning. Whether you’re building your first Drawingbot enclosure or refining an existing setup, this guide covers the dimensions, filament choices, assembly process, and how to get the plans.
Why You Need an Enclosure for Your Drawingbot#
Running a drawing robot without an enclosure is technically possible, but practically problematic in every way that matters at a live event.
Protection for the hardware. The DexArm is a precision instrument with servos, gears, and delicate calibration. At events, you’re dealing with spilled drinks, curious hands, dropped phones, and the occasional guest who leans on whatever’s nearby. An enclosure creates a physical barrier between the crowd and the mechanics, preventing accidental damage that could shut you down mid-event.
Professional appearance. First impressions matter. An exposed robot arm with visible wiring and a laptop propped open next to it reads as “tech demo,” not “premium entertainment.” A well-built enclosure communicates that this is a finished product, a real service — not someone’s weekend project. Clients notice the difference, and it directly affects whether they book you again.
Branding opportunities. The enclosure’s printed surfaces are prime real estate for branding. Client logos, event themes, your own company branding — painted or vinyl-wrapped panels let you customize the look for every event. A plain robot arm offers zero branding surface. An enclosure gives you every side of it.
Crowd management. At busy events, people cluster around the Drawingbot to watch it draw. Without an enclosure, they crowd in too close, bump the table, and occasionally reach toward the moving arm. The enclosure establishes a clear boundary. Guests can watch through viewing windows or from a comfortable distance without interfering with the drawing process.
Cable management. Power cables, USB connections, camera feeds — a sketch robot setup involves more wiring than you’d expect. An enclosure routes everything internally, keeping cables hidden and eliminating trip hazards. At an event where safety and aesthetics both matter, clean cable management isn’t optional.
DexArm Enclosure Overview#
The drawing box STL file is a complete enclosure design built specifically around the DexArm robot arm. It’s not a generic box with a hole cut in the top — every dimension accounts for the DexArm’s specific articulation range, mounting footprint, and operational requirements.
The design is a multi-part 3D-printed assembly that bolts and snaps together into a rigid enclosure. It includes a dedicated mounting plate for the DexArm’s base. The front section features a viewing window so guests and spectators can watch the robot draw in real time. The rear provides access points for cable routing, power connections, and maintenance. The top includes a camera mounting position centered above the drawing area, with a cutout for the lens.
The enclosure is designed to sit on a standard folding table or event table (typically 75 cm height). The combined height of the table and enclosure puts the camera at an ideal capture height for seated guests, and the drawing surface at a natural viewing angle for standing spectators.
Internally, the enclosure includes paper feed guides — channels that hold the drawing paper flat and in position while the arm works. This prevents paper shifting during longer, more detailed sketches, which is one of the most common issues operators deal with when running without an enclosure.
Dimensions and Specifications#
Here are the key measurements for the DexArm drawing box enclosure. All dimensions are for the assembled enclosure, not including the table it sits on.
| Specification | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Overall width | 60 cm (600 mm) |
| Overall depth | 50 cm (500 mm) |
| Overall height | 45 cm (450 mm) |
| Internal clearance (width) | 56 cm (560 mm) |
| Internal clearance (depth) | 46 cm (460 mm) |
| Internal clearance (height) | 42 cm (420 mm) |
| Drawing area | 30 cm x 21 cm (A4 landscape) |
| Viewing window | 40 cm x 25 cm |
| Camera mount hole | 4 cm diameter |
| Wall thickness | 2-3 mm (typical for printed parts) |
| Minimum build volume | 220 x 220 x 220 mm (for the largest single part) |
| DexArm base plate | 20 cm x 20 cm centered |
Clearance notes. The internal dimensions provide approximately 18 cm of clearance on each side of the DexArm’s maximum reach envelope. This accounts for the arm’s full range of motion during drawing without any risk of contact with the enclosure walls. The height clearance of 42 cm accommodates the DexArm at full vertical extension with pen attached, plus a 5 cm safety margin.
Paper feed area. The drawing area is positioned 10 cm from the front panel and centered laterally. Paper feed guides run along the left and right edges of the drawing area, with a 3 mm channel depth to hold standard drawing paper (up to 200 gsm) without clamping.
Camera position. The camera mount is centered directly above the drawing area on the top panel. The 4 cm diameter cutout accommodates most webcams and compact camera modules. The recommended camera height (from top panel to guest seating) works out to approximately 120 cm when placed on a standard event table.
Filament Recommendations#
The STL files are designed to be printed and assembled into a complete enclosure. Your filament choice affects surface quality, durability, and how well the finished enclosure takes branding — here’s what works best.
PLA (polylactic acid) The go-to choice for most operators. PLA is the easiest filament to print with — low warping, wide temperature tolerance, and available everywhere. It produces rigid, smooth-surfaced parts that take paint and vinyl wraps well, making it ideal for branded enclosures. A spool of PLA runs $20 to $30 and you’ll need several spools for the complete enclosure. PLA’s lower heat resistance (glass transition around 60 degrees C) is irrelevant for indoor event use where the enclosure sits on a table in a climate-controlled venue.
PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) The durability upgrade. PETG is stronger and more flexible than PLA, with better impact resistance and higher heat tolerance. If you’re an operator who transports the enclosure frequently — loading in and out of vehicles, stacking in storage, handling across multiple events per week — PETG’s toughness is worth the trade-offs. Those trade-offs: PETG is harder to print cleanly (more stringing, requires tuned retraction settings), slightly more expensive at $25 to $35 per spool, and produces a less smooth surface finish. For operators who prioritize durability over ease of printing, it’s the better choice.
| Filament | Strengths | Considerations | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | Easy to print, rigid, smooth finish, widely available, takes paint and vinyl well | Lower heat resistance (~60C glass transition), more brittle than PETG | Most operators — indoor events, branded enclosures |
| PETG | Stronger, more flexible, better impact resistance, higher heat tolerance | Harder to print cleanly, more stringing, slightly more expensive | Operators who transport frequently and need extra durability |
Post-processing. Printed parts can be sanded with 220-grit sandpaper to smooth layer lines before painting or wrapping. For a professional finish, a light coat of filler primer followed by paint gives 3D-printed surfaces a clean, factory-made appearance that hides the printed texture entirely.
Assembly Notes#
Building the enclosure from 3D-printed parts is straightforward — print the components, clean them up, and bolt them together.
Equipment and tools required:
- 3D printer with a minimum build volume of 220 x 220 x 220 mm (for example, a FlashForge AD5X or any printer meeting this size requirement)
- Hex keys / Allen wrenches (for M-bolt assembly)
- M-bolts and nuts (sizes specified in the assembly guide included with the STL files)
- Craft knife or flush cutters (for removing supports and cleaning up print artifacts)
Print time: Total print time across all parts is approximately 20 to 30 hours depending on your printer speed and settings. Parts can be printed in parallel if you have access to more than one printer. Plan to spread the printing across a few days — you don’t need to do it all at once.
Assembly time: Once all parts are printed and cleaned up, bolting and snapping the enclosure together takes approximately 1 to 2 hours.
The process follows a logical order: print each component, remove supports and clean up edges with a craft knife, and dry-fit everything before final assembly. Secure the DexArm mounting plate first using M-bolts, then assemble the side sections with bolts and snap-fit connections, and finish by attaching the top section last — this gives you full interior access during assembly for cable routing.
Recommended print settings:
| Setting | Recommended Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Layer height | 0.2 - 0.3 mm | 0.2 mm for visible surfaces, 0.3 mm for internal parts |
| Infill | 15 - 25% | Higher infill for structural parts, lower for cosmetic sections |
| Wall count | 3 - 4 perimeters | Provides structural rigidity without excessive print time |
| Supports | As needed per part | Some parts require supports for overhangs and mounting features |
Tips for a clean build:
- Sand and paint printed parts before final assembly — much easier to finish individual parts than an assembled enclosure
- Print structural parts at higher infill (20-25%) and cosmetic parts at lower infill (15%) to balance strength and print time
- Route cables through the rear access points with adhesive cable clips
- Add rubber feet to the bottom to dampen vibration and prevent scratching table surfaces
Customization Options#
The base enclosure design is intentionally modular. Here are the most common modifications operators make.
Branding panels. The printed surfaces can be painted, vinyl-wrapped, or finished with printed adhesive graphics for each event. Spray paint over sanded and primed surfaces produces professional results, and vinyl wraps peel off cleanly for quick rebranding between events.
LED lighting. Adding LED strip lights along the inside top edge dramatically improves both drawing quality and visual spectacle. The STL file includes a channel designed for standard 10 mm LED strip. Warm white (3000K) LEDs provide the best drawing illumination, while RGB LEDs let you match event themes or brand colors.
Monitor mounting. Many operators mount a small display (10 to 15 inches) on the front or side panel to show a live drawing feed or queue instructions. The panels support standard VESA 75 and VESA 100 mount patterns.
Ventilation. If you’re housing a computer inside the enclosure, the STL file includes optional vent cutout patterns for the rear panel — rectangular openings covered with mesh for airflow while keeping dust out.
Paper tray extension. For high-throughput events, some operators add an external paper feed tray that loads into the enclosure, letting an attendant swap paper without opening the box or interrupting the current drawing.
How to Get the Drawing Box STL File#
The drawing box STL file is included at no extra cost with every LiveSketch.ai software license. When you purchase the software, the enclosure plans are part of the package — along with documentation, assembly guides, and recommended print settings. No separate purchase, no add-on fee.
The practical advantage of using the provided STL is that every dimension has been validated against the DexArm’s actual range of motion through real-world testing. You’re not guessing at clearances or camera positions — they’ve been measured, tested, and refined across multiple iterations.
For the full picture on running AI drawing robots at events — including setup logistics, guest flow, and making the most of the experience — check out our complete guide to AI sketch robots for events. And if you’re looking at the drawing supplies that go inside the enclosure, our guide to the best pens for sketch art covers which pens deliver the most consistent results with robotic drawing.
If you’re thinking about turning robotic sketching into a business, our guide to starting a robotic sketching photo booth business covers the operational side — pricing, client acquisition, and scaling from your first event to a full calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Is the drawingbot enclosure STL file free?#
Yes. The drawingbot enclosure STL file is included at no extra cost with every LiveSketch.ai software license. There’s no separate purchase or add-on fee — the enclosure plans, assembly documentation, and recommended print settings are all part of the package.
What filament should I use for the drawingbot enclosure?#
PLA is the best choice for most operators. It’s easy to print, produces rigid and smooth-surfaced parts, and takes paint and vinyl wraps well for event branding. If you need extra durability for frequent transport and handling, PETG is a stronger alternative — though it’s harder to print cleanly and slightly more expensive.
How big of a 3D printer do I need for the enclosure?#
The largest single part requires a minimum build volume of 220 x 220 x 220 mm. Any 3D printer that meets this build volume will work. The parts are designed to be printed individually and assembled afterward, so you don’t need an oversized printer — just one that can handle the largest component.
How long does it take to 3D print the enclosure?#
Total print time across all parts is approximately 20 to 30 hours, depending on your printer speed, layer height, and infill settings. You can spread the printing across several days and print parts in parallel if you have access to more than one printer. Once all parts are printed and cleaned up, assembly takes an additional 1 to 2 hours.
How do the printed parts fit together?#
The parts bolt and snap together using M-bolts, nuts, and hex keys. The design uses a combination of bolt holes and snap-fit connections for a rigid assembly that can be disassembled for transport or maintenance. No glue or permanent adhesive is needed — the entire enclosure can be taken apart and reassembled.
Can I modify the STL files for a different robot arm?#
The STL files are designed specifically for the DexArm’s articulation range and mounting footprint. If you’re using a different robot arm, you’d need to adjust the internal clearances, base plate mounting holes, and potentially the overall dimensions to match your arm’s reach envelope. The modular multi-part design makes modifications feasible if you have CAD experience, but expect to spend time validating clearances for a different arm’s range of motion.
Whether you’re building your first Drawingbot enclosure or upgrading from a bare-table setup, the drawing box transforms a raw robot arm into a professional, branded experience that clients take seriously and guests enjoy watching. The DexArm enclosure plans give you a tested starting point — from there, the customization options let you make it your own.
