1 Topic by Heartlander

  • Heartlander
  • Heartlander
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  • From: Kent from Kansas City
  • Registered: 2013-06-23
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Topic: Central Air to keep things cool?

I am a 3D printer rookie, so maybe this is nutty but, I can already see how the X and Y steppers may get hot as well as the PC board. Heat is the enemy of solid state electronics. I know many have added 40MM fans and that's fine but those fans themselves generate some heat and the air they move is only as cool as the air inside the cabinet.

I'm wondering about mounting a central fan in an externally mounted plastic housing with 1/4" or 1/2" soft rubber hoses (like a surgeon might use or like you'd see on a slingshot) running from the fan manifold out to the steppers and circuit board. So we would pump cool air right where it's needed but not so much it would chill the extruder or workpiece.

Anyone care to comment? Thanks!

Robox printer, HICTOP (Prusa i3 variant) Model 3DP17 printer, ELEK 2.5W laser engraver, AutoDesk 123D Design, Windows 10

Heartlander's Website

2 Reply by adrian (edited by adrian 2013-06-26 09:06:08)

  • adrian
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Re: Central Air to keep things cool?

No reason it wouldn't work... but sounds like way more effort than a couple of silent-bearing DC fans clipped to the motors.

And as for them creating heat issues in unto themselves - in practical operation, its a non-issue. I use Tempreature Reactive Plastic for my fan housings - with fans off, they quickly move into the warmer colours... with the fans on, they stay at their <25°C colour - even the ones with fans bolted to large plastic enclosures that would theoretically trap the heat created by the motor.....

So I personally would say - sure it would work - but seems way more effort to skin a cat than alternative methods available. But if its just for laughs and excercising your engineering desires - sure why not....

EDIT: Y-Motor doesn't actually get hot - its bolted to the frame which acts as a giant heatsink... its cool to the touch in operation.

3 Reply by Heartlander

  • Heartlander
  • Heartlander
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  • From: Kent from Kansas City
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Re: Central Air to keep things cool?

Thanks, Adrian. Makes sense to me. Mark Twain said "If at first you don't succeed, try try again. Then if you don't succeed, give up. No sense being a damn fool about it."

Robox printer, HICTOP (Prusa i3 variant) Model 3DP17 printer, ELEK 2.5W laser engraver, AutoDesk 123D Design, Windows 10

Heartlander's Website