I had a tough time looking for an enclosure to modify to suit my needs. My Creality CR-10S printer requires an approximately 28″ x 24″ x 20″ space to do its printing, which is larger than most standard cabinets. Because fire safety was a priority, I ruled out any DIY enclosures that used plywood or other flammable materials. The “holy grail” would have been an all-metal enclosure, but whatever solution I found would need to be carried up the stairs to my apartment, and that made bulky steel toolboxes less attractive. Eventually, I discovered 19-inch server racks, which seemed to have the right depth without being excessively wide. Armed with new search terms, I turned to Craigslist.
I purchased the equipment case for $60 from a gentleman who bought a pallet of various travel cases at a Boeing surplus auction. The case was dusty and empty when I received it, but it did have a label indicating that it had been used for test equipment.