Designing Cages During Lockdown6/29/2020
One of the things I've been doing lately to both kill time and serve a necessary function is learning to use a 3d design program called Sketchup Make 2017. Sketchup is a program designed for people from all sorts of industries to be able to make building plans, design parts, build 3d models, etc. It is similar to programs like Autocad which you may have heard of. There are tons of complex things you can do with this program. However, for the purposes of designing cages it is fantastically simplistic. I'll link the video I used to learn the basics below.
Sketchup Make 2017 is an older version of the program which you can download for free, or you can use it by working online if you choose. There are a few functions that are locked using this version, but it is still very useful for designing/drawing up your enclosure or rack plans and having them be to scale. Click HERE to access this free version of the program.
Currently I'm acquiring a few tools and parts needed to complete a new rack system for my gopher and, soon to arrive, bull snakes. I'm also in the process of using the program to design some other more traditional wooden enclosures as well as pvc ones. Below is my finalized design for my new bull and gopher snake rack. It will hold 7 young adults using Freedom Breeder FB-80 tubs.
Before you ask, that is the color scheme I'm planning to paint the rack. The rack will be constructed of 3/4" plywood using brad nails and wood glue. Then it will be painted with at least 2 coats of Drylock Extreme to give it a smooth water-proof layer. Afterwards I'll paint it the actual colors you see above. The large red rectangles on the back of the shelves are recessed cavities for the heat tape which I'll cut out using a router.
Above is another cage design I've been working on as a permanent enclosure for large adult bull snakes, pine snakes, medium sized boas, and small to medium sized pythons. In this design I made sure they were stackable and mobile with custom hide boxes, 6 inch litter dams, and raised heated shelves. I also made sure to include 36" slim flourescent fixtures so that I can put some full-spectrum bulbs in the enclosures.
Below is a design I just started working on tonight for a PVC enclosure large enough for most adult colubrids, large ball pythons, and many others.
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