Lewihe Play 3D bowden layer fan blower by magonegro

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

Pics shows how this part fits in the whole design (blue part). The part that fits the LM6UU bearings is the Play3D original part. Other parts conform my custom design for the Play3D's X-Carriage.http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1547122http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1527259http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1639559
and also used this awesome 40mm fan model for reference: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:32246
My previous design of a layer fan for this extremely small hotend used a 30mm fan but this one is much better. I know this little fans very well, and as I thought it started to have troubles after just a month of printing (24/7). I mean it started to be noisy, and thus, prone to fail soon. I have thinking about this for two weeks and I have decided to bring in a new solution. Well, I can't put in that little room a larger fan, but I can use a cheap vinyl or silicone tube from anywhere out of the printer where I have free space, using this tube as an air conduct I can manage to use a durable and powerful 50mm blower instead of a #&$#%# little fan, and have lots of air pressure when needed. Besides this, the air coming from the exterior part of the printer is cooler and works better. This little part of just 44x24mm will do the job. Just use a ~8mm inner diameter tube, attach it to the part, fix it with some ties and job done. At first I thought about using a PTFE tube and pneumatic fittings but that was an expensive solution and less flexible. Use your own solution to attach the blower where you want, or use the one included. Print the part in ABS with buildplate support only, don't use complete support as it will completely clog the air flow, and you won't be able to remove the inner support, remember this is a hollow part. Bridging should be ok. V2 new version recommended.
TODO: Nothing. Performs as expected.
UPDATE (29-JUN-2016):V2 enhanced M3 bolt support. Reinforced latch. I ended breaking the bolt support when tightening. Shortened back 4mm the bolt support length, 30mm M3 bolts weren't enough. Some minor design changes. This a final version (if that exists). Previous versions will not be maintained.
UPDATE (28-JUN-2016): V2 added. Increased screw length to use a 30mm M3 regular screw. Added a latch to avoid pitching, this also helps ABS printing acting as as extra cooling pillar. Removed unnecessary material that could interfere with bed clips. Rounded and refined design. Increased air output hole to enhance airflow. Added a small duct to aim better the airflow. Part still requires buildplate support ONLY, and only due to the tube connector, any other overhang angle is 45º or more. Will put pics when I have the time. First version works fine but some improvements should be done. You don't need to update your printed part if it works well for your setup, but if you do you won't regret. Anyway no more updates expected for this part beyond this V2.
UPDATE (22-JUN-2016): Updated model and STL for a inner ~8mm tube, The only one I could find nearby as I ended all my 6mm tube stocks. Lengthened a bit the part to accomodate the 8mm inner / 10mm outer diameter tube. Anyway performing even better than previous model as the airflow is enhanced by the greater diameter of the tube.