Cooling using Computer Case Fans

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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby flurin » Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:48 pm

I've posted the link again (above). Maybe it can help designing your ducted cooling system.

I used first an old fan 92 mm but I'm now testing a solution without duct with a 80 mm fan.

CoolingSystem1.JPG
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby canadianavenger » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:14 am

Not sure I care for all the added weight on the carriage. Has anyone tried something mor like the air assist on a laser?
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby flurin » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:41 am

Compare with the belt effect you have changing direction, the added weight
isn't really crucial. The right fan cooling is approximately 200 grams (plastic parts 60 grams).
Anyway I'll replace this with a smaller fan and no duct.

I suppose a laser air assist has more weight?
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby canadianavenger » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:23 pm

flurin wrote:I suppose a laser air assist has more weight?


The laser air assist is like the Bowden extruder in that it offloads the heavy parts to the table where mass is not an issue. The weight at the head would be in the ballpark of your plastic parts only. (probably less as they would be smaller)
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby flurin » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:51 pm

I see! Do you have more infos (suppliers, price)?
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby Enraged » Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:39 pm

You could use the same air pump that is listed in the 2.x Laser BOM, but I don't know if that would have enough airflow vs a fan? I was thinking about moving a larger fan (80mm or 120mm) to the frame, and running a duct/hose to the carriage plate. You can get some very quiet large fans for computers, and they move a lot of air.
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby flurin » Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:53 pm

My latest version:

The fan is slewable.

fanmount1.JPG
Working position (click on the picture to see more details)

fanmount2.JPG
Open (click on the picture to see more details)

I used a 80 mm fan with the swirl-fan-grill and a 60 mm one for the extruder-cooling. The 80 mm fan including plastic parts and screws is approx. 80 grams. The cooling effect is better than the old one (92 mm) with the duct.

Remark:
I used an old fan with an thermistor, so I had to bypass the thermistor in order to be able to run the fan at full speed.

Edit:
Here is another link about "Effects of Grill Patterns on Fan Performance/Noise":

http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articl ... -Noise-107

I added the Stl-File for a Swirl-Fan-Grill (80 mm).
Attachments
FanGrill80.stl.zip
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Last edited by flurin on Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby TLHarrell » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:10 pm

I would recommend hanging a slightly larger fan on the side of the extruder motor, and creating a small duct to split the flow from that.
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby flurin » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:38 pm

Well, I tried with a 92 mm fan as you proposed. After several tests I don't think that a duct is the best solution.
At the end of the duct the airflow is quite low.
Click here to see how fans work:
http://www.silverstonetek.com/techtalk_ ... =wh10_0061

You really should try it to see what happens.
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Re: Cooling using Computer Case Fans

Postby TLHarrell » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:15 pm

Not all computer case fans are equal. Many are designed for extremely low pressure differential and very quiet operation. There are others that are designed for higher pressures and do not worry about the noise. Ducting would work better with the higher pressure fans.

Here's a couple for comparison:
Nidec 80mm, 5700RPM, 80CFM, 53dBA
Vantec Tornado 80mm, 5700RPM, 84.1 CFM, 55.2dBA

Average case fan runs ~1200RPM, 20-30dBA and 12-15CFM.
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