Cage Concept

This is my basic plans for the cage im going to build. Unlike most cages this one is designed to be disassembled for transportation and then reassembled in probably about 5mins.

Reason I designed it this way it well I will be moving a lot in the next few years.

I have designed 2 version one for my Bearded Dragons then modified it for my BP. I will describe the Bearded Dragon version just because its the bigger and original design that can be modified.

Basic plan is to use flexwatt heat tape covered with linoleum on the inside of the cage, to serve as an insulator and make cage easier to clean. The bottom base will have substrate damns so when removed from the rest of the cage it will still hold the substrate. The back will be held in place by wooden dowels or metal poles. The side plexiglass slide into grooves cut in the back and base. and the front plexiglass is sliding doors.

Kind of hard to explain everything so if you have questions let me know.

I used Google Sketchup to create this model its free if you want to download it and take a look at the 3D model its easier to see. If i posted pictures it would take forever to view every part. Each part is created in 3D along with the finished result.

I used mediafire to upload a rar file with a folder and all the parts.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ymikz4t1miw/CagePlans.rar

I am no carpenter, i pulled these plans right out of my head so let me know what you think and what could be improved.

Forgot to mention that a screw in each corner of the top will hold it all together, and if im right it should be pretty sturdy. These plans probably will change once i start actually constructing the cages, and I will post an actual DIY write up then, but it wont be tell end of may and june.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LawfulChaos

I am no carpenter

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I am.....but I can't figure out how to view your plans! I should stick to my tools. I would love to see them, it sounds really interesting.

I do have SketchUp, love that.

By not be able to open them im assuming you mean you cant open up the .rar file. You can either download the program Winrar, its a compressing tool like winzip, and download the first link I posted it has a folder with all the files, or just download them individually I will post them below.

I couldnt edit my last post so here are the links and some more information

The first link is the cage fully assembled that should help explain where everthing goes. I tried to label them so its easy to figure out where they go.

Since you are a carpenter I would love to hear your input on this design, if it looks like it should work or if im completely screwed up.

Here is a little bit more description of the cage, to help give you a better understand how it should work.

All the pieces that say base are nailed together to form one piece. The top is 4 boards nailed together with a screen in the middle. The side plexiglass slide into grooves in the sidebase, back, top, and frame pieces. The front plexiglass is thicker at 1/4in because the rail for the sliding door is made for that thickness so i had to increase the size. The rail for the sliding door is not included in the plans, because im not sure at the exact dimensions that why the height of the front plexiglass is approximate. The backbase peice will have either 2in wooden dowels or metal rods that slide into holes about 1/4 in diameter, then the back piece will slide over those rods to hold it into place. The top will have a screw in each corner to hold everything together. I plan on sealing the wood with a yet undetermined product and possibly applying a stain. For the lizard version of this cage i will be adding a fake rock wall that covers the entire back, and the snake version of the cage thinking about using the smooth waterproof shelf lining.

Im planning on using heat tape on the inside of the cage drilling a hole in the backbase piece for the wires to come out, then sealing the entire base piece with linoulem and silicon.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/5mzug5...eassembled.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/mmn22m4vzwx/Back.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0imm1wytduy/Backbase.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/n53fj1...bottombase.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/jyqoym2inmm/Frames.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/tzdve2zdk0m/Frontbase.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/n1myaq...frontplexi.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/zzikvmnkm5w/Sidebase.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/mhknnnldmo2/Sideplexi.skp
http://www.mediafire.com/file/tkyndoyukot/top.skp

Thanks for any input

For those who are intrested but dont want to mess with getting google sketchup here is a picture of what the cage should look like assembled.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2415/cageassembled.jpg

Hello,

I made a same style enclosure, approx same dimensions, with Plexiglas 1/4 walls and sliding doors. Watch out about the Plexiglas, because due to the temperature difference between in and out of the encolsure, the plexiglas in my case, bowed. It was no problem for the walls because the pieces were screwed in the wooden frame, but since the vertical sides of the sliding doors aren’t held, they can bow. Not a big deal though...

For me, the problem came from the fact that I put a vertical beam in the middle of the front side (solidity purposes…I do not have carpenters skills, I don’t know if it’s really required). The beam is too close from the doors so because of the bowing thing, they are rubbing against each other.




https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...6/img_1264.jpg

Thanks for the info, i was actually thinking of adding a middle support bar to because I might stack another cage on top, and not sure if it will support it.

Plexiglass can bow hmm that could be an issue if the side piece bow because the can slide in and out and that could make it difficult to slide them back in, hopefully they wont bow because all sides are secured.

Nice looking cage too by the way

The bowing thing makes door difficult ti slide because of the beam. If the beam was 1/2 to 1 in. deeper it wouldn't make an issue. but it could look a little wierd. And the BP could sneak between the gap, which could be a problem.

If you want to avoid this, just put true glass sliding door. I think that wouldn't bow. In my next one I'll plan to have the walls made of plexiglas, and the front door of glass.

I wonder if polycarbonate would bow like plexiglass, its a little bit tougher material and i want to avoid glass, because it can break.

I like the background for your cage what did you use?

Hi LC, sorry I haven't responded to your post, I have had a busy weekend.

I still have not opened the link, apparently my ScetchUp is outdated and I need to go do that first. In the mean time, I thought I would comment on the drawing you posted.

I am curios about the connections of all the frame members. You mention dowels or metal rods, could you elaborate? I agree that the plexi will bow on you also. Is is a great material, and I use it a lot, but it has limitations. You may be better off going with glass, and making a shipping box for it when you move.

Have you considered the aluminum extrusion cages? That may be an alternative that suits your need for modular construction. Take a look at this project;

http://reptiliancages.yuku.com/topic/53

It is a lot more complex than what you need, but may be something you could adapt.

I'll take a look at those drawings and get back.

I did consider using aluminum, but its more expensive and i dont really have the tools to work ith aluminum. I really wanted to avoid glass, because of the expense and weight along with it might break during moving. I will have to look into it more and see if home depot can cut the glass for me and what not, it might be cheaper to go with polycarbonate, which is stronger then plexiglass, but it might have the same problem with bowing.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7...ckbasehole.jpg

This picture shows the hole in the backbase peice along with the dowel or metal rod

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7...kbaseholes.jpg

This shows the entire back base piece with the holes for the metal rods

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2715/backholes.jpg

back piece with the same kind of holes

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7728/framejoint.jpg

front corner frame pieces this is the joint that slides into the frontbase peice

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6...tbasejoint.jpg

front base piece with the notch for the frame piece to slide into

The backframe piece and the back piece use the metal rods so that the back can slide onto the backframe piece without the use of nails or screws. The pictures above kinda show how it works, I think ive seen this used somewhere else.

Im not sure if those metal rods are gonna support the back enough to hold it upright though

Then the front corner pieces i labeled as frame pieces have a notch cut in the bottom so it can slide into the frontbase piece and then when the plexi glass slides into the frame piece it should hold it completely in place.... I hope.

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Originally Posted by LarryS

Have you considered the aluminum extrusion cages? That may be an alternative that suits your need for modular construction. Take a look at this project;

http://reptiliancages.yuku.com/topic/53

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So that got me thinking about expanded PVC cages, and I found this website

http://richbeasley.com/catalog/index...=index&cPath=2

Was thinking if i got that cage and I could disassemble it by unscrewing it, but that would mean not sealing the seams which would have a negative effect on humidity.