"Mistral 2.1" Extruder Cooling Duct for the Anet A8 Printer

thingiverse

I've been designing and printing all kinds of cooling ducts for two months as I wasn't satisfied with what was available. Even popular round ducted coolers fail to effectively cool filaments while keeping heat blocks hot. Many online options are too clunky, heavy or poorly designed. With the new Marlin firmware incorporating thermal protection mechanisms, it's crucial to have a design that won't trigger false alarms. This is particularly important when cooling ducts blow air on the heat block and not directly onto the filament. That's why I created "Mistral": http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2086195. Mistral 2 provides improved airflow and support for GearBest auto leveling sensors. To use Mistral, follow these steps: 1. Prepare your printer by installing the Anet A8. 2. Set the print resolution to 0.2mm and infill to 100%. 3. Print the top and bottom layers at 0.8mm thickness. 4. Use supports for the throat portion that goes into the fan and build plate. Mistral 2.1a has been uploaded, incorporating the advantages of Mistral 1. This version now includes a 50/50 air distribution and is designed to work with E3D Volcano hotends. Update 2017.02.21: I've added a new file for the GearBest auto leveling sensor. Update 2017.02.24: I've revised Mistral 2 "a" to place it over the fan outlet instead of inserting it inside. This design accommodates users with damaged fan hinges. Update 2017.03.04: I've uploaded Mistral 2.1 and 2.1a, which incorporate the benefits of Mistral 1. Update 2017.03.11: I've uploaded Mistral 2.1a-4.5 to accommodate Gearbest auto leveling sensors or http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2188477. You'll need to remove the small support added in the opening for the fan hinges. Update 2019.01.13: I've added a new file, Mistral V2.1a, in step format for download. More information on PID tuning can be found here: http://reprap.org/wiki/PID_Tuning