Flow Vent [Ender 3]

thingiverse

This is my Ender 3 cooling fan duct design. It leverages the strengths of the stock ender 3 cooling system while making improvements based on similar design principles.\r\n\r\n1. Maintain airflow:\r\nMy duct design aims to prevent narrow passages that can lead to high pressure within the duct, causing the tiny stock fan to struggle. I've optimized the output area to match 80% of the original fan's capacity.\r\n\r\n2. Maintain low profile:\r\nMany ducts hang too low or level with the nozzle tip, risking accidental crashes into binder clips during printing. I strive to maintain clearance for clips while keeping the design as compact as possible.\r\n\r\n3. Concentrate airflow directly under nozzle tip:\r\nThe stock fan's lack of focused air stream is a significant drawback. My design aims to customize the vent and reduce output area to achieve sufficient airflow under the nozzle for high-quality prints, including angling the vent and adjusting its size to around 80%.\r\n\r\n4. Maintain laminar flow inside the vent:\r\nBy smoothing out corners within the vent, I believe I can increase airflow efficiency and create a more effective duct. Although I'm not an expert, my design includes chamfers to help navigate air smoothly.\r\n\r\nThis cooling fan duct is designed to replace the stock Ender 3 cooling vent exactly. While I continue to refine aspects two and three, the current version has proven reliable for producing excellent prints. My bed is perfectly level, and the duct just clears my binder clips. However, further adjustments may be necessary to optimize airflow under the nozzle tip.\r\n\r\nPrinting settings:\r\nlayer height = .2mm (lower layers could yield better results)\r\nSupports = ON (enabling supports helped create a smooth curve inside the vent on the ceiling)\r\nWalls = 3 (increasing wall thickness helps secure mounting points and prevent PLA from breaking)\r\nInfil = ? (try using 50 - 100% infill, I'm unsure of the optimal value)\r\nPRINT AS SEEN IN PICTURE WITHOUT ROTATION\r\n\r\nThrough testing and experience, my cooling fan duct has produced better prints than alternative solutions, except for those that utilize a more powerful cooling fan. Since stopping development on this design three months ago, I've continued to use it, but haven't had time to perfect it.\r\n\r\nP.S. If the vent doesn't fit correctly or is extremely difficult to mount, it may indicate issues with your printing head and mount, such as asymmetry. Like a glove not fitting a hand properly, perhaps your hand is missing some fingers without you realizing it. If installation isn't straightforward, I won't be able to assist you as I don't have time for further adjustments. Maybe I'll upload the step file soon.