CTC Printer - Silent 80mm fan Mainboard Makerboard Adapter

thingiverse

After installing really good shock-absorbing feet (spring-based, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1392657), I discovered that the only loud thing remaining was the fan blowing onto the mainboard under the printer. A small 40mm? fan mounted in a way that caused it to rattle heavily on the wood frame produced far more noise than necessary and was even louder than the printer itself. Ideally, the fan needs some clearance at the bottom, so it's best to install this after installing anti-vibration legs to physically raise the machine slightly. I'm not sure if this is the case with MakerBots and MakerBot clones, but it should also fit. The stepper drivers need cooling, and the original setup focused the air mainly on one driver (as it was mounted from the side). I figured that using a silent 80mm fan above would not only eliminate the noise but also cool the drivers better and equally. The CTC is 24 volts, which you need to keep in mind. I only had 12v fans available, so I had to wire up a small AC-DC transformer to the mains before the power supply to supply the fan its own 12v line. Alternatively, you can purchase a 24v 80mm fan and wire it into the pre-existing power lines for the original fan. This is a very simple print, requiring only two holes drilled into the frame. I also print with rafts, but only to make it easier to remove from the bed - it's not necessary. First, print this out, then turn off the printer. Remove the old fan and find a good spot to mount the new one, marking through the screw holes on the print (make sure you use the correct screw holes and not the ones for the fan). Drill the holes carefully, taking care not to drill into the heated bed on the other side. Before mounting it onto the frame, attach the fan to the print and connect it to power. If it's a 24v fan, you can wire it into the pre-existing cables - if not, you'll need to attach a separate power supply. You could potentially connect it in series with something else that is 12v to still use the 24v line, e.g., another fan or light. Keep in mind that you won't be able to turn it on and off separately, though. Once the fan is attached, attach the whole print using the drilled holes and some nuts and bolts. The size isn't specific, but if the holes are too small/wide, just adjust in Tinkercad. And enjoy your suddenly much quieter printer!