Fredrick's New Enclosure

[ericj]

When I told my dad how big Fredrick's new enclosure was going to be, he gave it a name: The Iguana Mansion. Not quite, but it's a good nickname.

7 of the 12 black sheets are in, but they failed to cut the remaining sheet as specified, so I'll be picking those up tomorrow. For now, however, I have some pictures that give a general idea of how big his new place is going to be...

Tell me if these don't work...

Vertical - Spike and the Tape are in there for scale. The tape is at ~25".


From an angle:


A closeup of the edge of this really wild material. It's light for it's size and rigidity, slightly flexible, and retains it's original shape. I bent the 8' length around in a curve to bring it home, and it returned to shape immediately after I removed it from the car.


Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the frame as it starts to go together, but it won't be done until the acrylic sheet fabrication is completed (my least responsive vendor...ugh).

[ericj]

All 12 panels are now in, all 19 frame members came in today, and a bunch of bags of fasteners & hardware.

I'll have more pictures tonight as it starts coming together...

[ericj]

Here is the back and one of the sides...

Completed Side and Back under construction:


Closer image of Back construction:


Completed Back:

[IguanaKing]

So...what are the dimensions of Frederick's mansion going to be? BTW...its cool that your dad is supporting your care of this spectacular animal. Maybe he doesn't pay for anything (or maybe he helps with that too )...but, at least he is allowing you to build a proper home for your iguana in his own home. ;D

[ericj]

97" wide, 80" tall (72.5" inside), and 49.5" deep.

Ugh. Never help move a safe. Ever.

[mar]

ericj said:

When I told my dad how big Fredrick's new enclosure was going to be, he gave it a name: The Iguana Mansion. Not quite, but it's a good nickname.

With the name of the ig wouldn't it be more fitting to call the cage Hollywood?

[ericj]

MAR said:

With the name of the ig wouldn't it be more fitting to call the cage Hollywood?

It took me a bit to catch that one. Good one. *chuckles*

[ericj]

Back and Side attached together:

[mar]

ericj said:

It took me a bit to catch that one. Good one. *chuckles*

I don't try too hard

What are the black sheets made from? All I remember you saying is they are entirely synthetic.

Is the Al protected at all from oxidation are arn't you worried about that?

[ericj]

MAR said:

I don't try too hard

I just haven't been around enough real computer geeks and engineers lately.

What are the black sheets made from? All I remember you saying is they are entirely synthetic.

Expanded PVC sheet. It's somewhere around half the weight of a solid sheet, workable, and has a smooth surface. Think of it as a really high density foam... Heavy emphasis on "really", since it isn't obvious to the casual observer that it has any miniature bubbles inside. It would take a tremendous amount of pressure to compess it, too.

Is the Al protected at all from oxidation are arn't you worried about that?

I was concerned about that, since it will contain high levels of humidity. All the frame members are anodized.

[Nanshe]

Wow, that is going to be one awesome enclosure when you get it done! What a lucky Iguana!

A lot of work going in to that too - keep up the good work!

[ericj]

Thanks.

Mark: If you've ever taken a close look at ABS pipe (the big plastic drain pipe (also safe for use in potato guns)), you'll notice that it's a similar expanded material. Except the sheets are PVC, of course.

Here are the last three before the acrylic and floor come in...

[IguanaKing]

Cool enclosure. But protecting the Aluminum...although its a nice thought...REALLY isn't necessary in something that isn't expected to last beyond 40 or 50 years. If its already done, GO FOR IT...otherwise, don't waste too much energy on protecting your Aluminum.

[ericj]

Thanks.

It's all hard-anodized, so it should last practically forever unless it's damaged at some point in the future. It should still be nice long after I'm gone... Worst case scenario, I could replace the panels or acrylic without too much work. Regardless, I hate handling aluminum that isn't anodized - the stuff practically flash-corrodes and leaves you covered with the nasty-feeling, difficult-to-remove, alzheimer's-causing black hands...

[IguanaKing]

Uh-oh. The black hands cause Alzheimers, I guess I'm in trouble. The major thing I hate about working with aluminum is that its SOOO easy to warp it with a bead blaster.