MK8 heatsink fan shroud / print cooler

thingiverse

Human: Utilizes the heat sink fan of the MK8 extruder for active cooling of the print. This remix of http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:22297 was created because my extruder head orientation and dimensions differed from the original design, which wouldn't fit. The new version is 11mm thick, matching the heat sink's thickness. To function properly, the fan must be mounted in reverse, blowing air across the heat sink (and then the print area) rather than drawing it in from the heat sink. This shroud replaces the two aluminum spacers that secured the heat sink and fan with M3 bolts. The heat sink should snap into place within the shroud; slight sanding of the interior edges may be necessary for a proper fit, depending on printer tolerances. Initially skeptical about its effectiveness, I was pleasantly surprised by the significant improvement in print quality. Single small items can now be printed without excess heat from molten plastic and extruder causing them to become oozy. The fan duct provides more cooling to the print area at higher Y-axis levels; future revisions will aim for even cooling coverage both in front of and behind the extruder nozzle.