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R1+ PLA Fan Shroud

Discussion in 'General Questions' started by BenMac, Sep 25, 2015.

  1. BenMac

    BenMac Member

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    Hello everyone,
    I have been playing with my printer a bit, and am pretty sure that I need an improved setup for my PLA fans. I know there are some shrouds available, but I am not sure if they work with the plus, with the default extruder. I know I could print some of them to find out, but I figured that I would ask if anyone else has some info, or has already tried it.

    Thank you for your time an patience, I hope that you have a great day. :)
    ~Ben
     
    #1 BenMac, Sep 25, 2015
  2. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Fan shrouds aren't worth it for 40x10mm fans
     
    #2 Mike Kelly, Sep 25, 2015
  3. BenMac

    BenMac Member

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    I may be using the wrong term, I am referring to the plastic pieces that funnel the air to the tip of the extruder. Basically, these fan ducts.
     
    #3 BenMac, Sep 25, 2015
  4. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    You used the correct term and my point still stands.

    Axial fans don't work well with back pressure and those ducts usually hurt cooling more than they help
     
    #4 Mike Kelly, Sep 25, 2015
  5. BenMac

    BenMac Member

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    Even with PLA? Please forgive me for belaboring this question. I have just noticed that many people seem to have these set up for cooling PLA prints.
     
    #5 BenMac, Sep 25, 2015
  6. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Yes. People do it because they think it's a good idea, but they generally have no proof it actually improves results over an unducted fan.

    From my experience and analysis, having no ducting cools better than ducts because there's less air restriction and better cooling.
     
    #6 Mike Kelly, Sep 25, 2015
    mark tomlinson likes this.
  7. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    If you go for a larger fan then the ducting might make sense (maybe, YMMV) but I agree with Mike that the stock fan size is pretty much a wash with a duct.

    I have one Robo with the fan ducted and another not. No difference. I briefly ran the non-ducted one with no fan and, ouch! that was a fail.
     
    #7 mark tomlinson, Sep 25, 2015
  8. BenMac

    BenMac Member

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    Ok, thank you, that was very informative. :) I am also happy to hear it from two trusted sources.

    About what size would you say would show some improvement? I am not married to the idea of reusing the default fans. I just want to improve the bridging, and as such, would greatly appreciate any advice you can give me.
     
    #8 BenMac, Sep 25, 2015

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