CNC Fan Mount for laser engraving ( 1610 / 3018 / 2418 )

thingiverse

Using Tinkercad, I designed this device to connect an 80mm fan directly to my 3018 CNC machine so that I can easily evacuate smoke from laser engraving up through a flexible ducting system I purchased at Home Depot for use with my ceiling exhaust fan in my home workshop (or you could simply stick the exhaust end out of a window). This allows me to engrave wood right at my desk without any smell or smoke issues. I believe the X/Z carriage design is identical on my 3018 CNC machine and possibly other cheap Chinese-made machines as it is for my 3018, so it should fit these other models. The frame snaps over the mounting spacers that hold the Z axis stepper motor in place, requiring a tight fit but secured by a clip at the back for a cable-tie to prevent it from coming loose if something interferes with the duct's movement during engraving. The angle of the fan-frame is adjustable, featuring notches integrated into the joint to lock it securely into place. However, the plastic bolt holding everything together may not last forever; I didn't have a long enough M5 bolt lying around (at least 60mm) so this may need to be replaced with a metal bolt and wing nut or printed nut at some point. There are a couple of awkward corners in my design, which is simply due to my learning process as I figure out the best way to handle rounded corners in Tinkercad; they've been officially categorized as "good enough" for now. This device works seamlessly with my Eye Protection thing: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2984605 If you need to adapt this design to fit flexible ducting of a different dimension, I recommend checking out: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1015874