Prusa I3 Mk3 Single Blower Fan Cooling Shroud with Rear Cooling

thingiverse

I tried other cooling shrouds and decided to make my own. From what I've learned about cooling freshly printed filament and from some previous knowledge on air cooling dynamics, I created this cooling shroud that blows air in a consistent solid stream across the nozzle about the width of the hot end. By keeping the air flow constantly moving past there is no stagnant air hanging around so in theory the heat is transferred from the filament more efficiently. Other shrouds I have tried blow from multiple directions which too me create turbulent air around the nozzle causing it to stagnate and in turn holding the warmer temperature air around longer. **V2: This version improves on my first design by directing the air stream directly onto the nozzle, whereas the first version directed it more onto the heating block and was not as efficient. **V4.1: Now new and improved with the 45-degree fan update, bonus added extra support! No longer a wasted support sticking out to the side. Improved air stream now more towards the print away from heater block. The previous version I have been told and experienced some thermal runaway because the air hit the heater block, this has been solved. Less wasted air and now more focused on the extruded filament. **V4.2: Added a requested armless version **V9.0: After a few redesigns I designed a shroud that also has better cooling behind the nozzle. Also should have had better clearance from the heated parts and Pinda. **V10.3: Completely new design, Now with much greater rear cooling from a single fan! I also made sure there was enough clearance from Heater Block, PINDA Probe and Z Axis Screw. This was designed with the Bondtech Extruder in mind but should work with stock Extruder. The area between the blower fan and the air outlets has been increased to provide less restrictive airflow, the front and rear cooling have uniform airflow paths so that there is minimal airflow divinations between the left and right side of the Cooling Shroud. This new shroud has provided better overhang printing with PETG compared to the previous version when tested with PLA, I also have seen an improvement with bridging. This is also not dependent on the model orientation, so there is less/no need to reorientate the model to get the most airflow for bridging and overhangs. This design also integrates the brace for the blower fan to the extruder body due to the extended distance between the blower fan and the extruder body.