Proteus Solder Station - 80mm fan by ProteanMan

Last crawled date: 3 years, 1 month ago

Updated February 15th 2021
Uploaded the 120mm fan version and changed the side components slightly. This was a long time coming. Photos on the way when it is assembled. New Components needed with lists below in Parts.
Updated March 6th 2020
New version with updated everything. Older version files are in a zip file to download if needed.
Makes
Have a look at @streetmaker and @memisis who printed this out in some great colours! The real life photos are from their makes of the solder station.
Streetmaker: https://www.thingiverse.com/make:474512
Memisis: https://www.thingiverse.com/make:491823
Safety Disclaimer:
The purpose is to pull fumes away from your face. Please use adequate ventilation and/or attach a solder fume filter to the back of the fan using the filter holder. Be safe and think about your lungs. Carbon filters are easily purchased in sheets and can be cut to fit the filter slot.
Ideas:
Click the "Remixes" tab to see other great ideas for this project. If you have your own ideas about what to add you can create Side Stations for both stations. The Left and Right sides have two 4mm holes for you to add anything you want of your own design, most common being a custom solder rod holder. Put your name on your adaptation for credit.
Options
80mm fan size - 100mm fan and more coming soon. The files will have the size in their title if they are for that specific fan size.
Electronics/Wiring
Make your life easy and get a fan/LED strip that use the same DC Voltage. 12V is a good standard.
Suggested parts:
2.1mm DC jack - in back: see image and below for link
AC to DC power converter that plugs into 2.1mm jack
PWM DC motor controller to control fan speed - on left side of fan base: see image and below for link
LED Strip with high CRI rating 80+ (Optional) - attached to the end of the movable arms.
DC on/off switch (same voltage as fan/LEDs) - on right side of fan base: see image and below for link
Solder the fan and LED ground wires together and to the DC power jack's ground pin.
Solder the DC power jack's positive pin to your On/Off switch, and then from the switch to the LED positive and fan positive. This will turn everything on at the same time.
Printing
Use any material you prefer. My standard is PETG on almost everything I print.
The ball joints MUST be printed with TPU. The flexibility of TPU and the rubber like grip it creates makes the ball joints work perfectly.
Ball joints are designed to be a perfectly snug fit. If you find they are too tight then adjust your "Horizontal Expansion" setting in your slicer to allow for a looser fit. Test this on a few different prints to find your perfect settings.
Assembly
Parts are designed to fit M3 bolts/nuts (or brass inserts) - which is 1/8" bolts/nuts for the USA.
All parts should line up and be easily assembled.
Printing ball joint parts in TPU ensures a snug and flexible fit.
I find that for each arm I need:
1 Ball Joint Base
2 or 3 Ball Joints
1 Alligator Clip and Ball Joint End.
Attach the fan to the solder station with bolts/nuts. Attach the filter holder to the back of the fan with bolts/nuts. Insert filter that you can cut to size.
Alligator clips can be soldered to a ground wire and run through the center hole of arms if needed.
LED strip should be glued since the sticking back typically gives out over time.
Wire the LED strip through the center hole of the arms.
Filter
It is highly encouraged to purchase solder filter sheets (charcoal filters) that are 10mm thick. You can cut these to size with a knife or scissors to fit the filter holder that attaches to the back of the fan. This will ensure better air quality when soldering and remove heavy solder fume particles.
Let me know if there is anything else I am missing. I can create a 100mm and 120mm Fan base if requested.
Please share any great images with me and I may add them to this page for others to use as reference.
Links to Parts:
DC Power Brick: (choose12v 3A+, or other depending on fan/LEDs)https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32859196804.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.3f7d270fwqRK00&algo_pvid=288d2847-bc54-4034-b68b-4fa0647ebc75&algo_expid=288d2847-bc54-4034-b68b-4fa0647ebc75-0&btsid=0bb0623e16134327344954188eb3fb&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_
DC Power Plug: *DC022 - 5.5mmx2.1mmhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001050150711.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6ee71f0ftgMxGY&algo_pvid=4b468c12-a520-4d46-8ec5-6e8623fab2bf&algo_expid=4b468c12-a520-4d46-8ec5-6e8623fab2bf-2&btsid=0bb0624116134278079113741e6819&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_
Toggle Button With Light: you can obviously use whatever you want instead of this. *Choose the 19mm version**https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001640045513.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.260e6bc85hpNmO&algo_pvid=c48ba3e4-f0f5-4436-ba04-5b1af355a33e&algo_expid=c48ba3e4-f0f5-4436-ba04-5b1af355a33e-8&btsid=0bb0624716134328003262811e5dc3&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_
DC PWM Motor Controller: should look like pictures abovehttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001883595551.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6c0d3deauCuK6q&algo_pvid=bea1b415-8cb0-47bd-85e1-8039b682b027&algo_expid=bea1b415-8cb0-47bd-85e1-8039b682b027-2&btsid=0bb0600116134379013002568e0d49&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_
Any ideas for add-ons please let me know! Other clip types, front tray types, etc.