Solder Smoke Filter Fan 80mm

thingiverse

This is a single piece box designed specifically for standard 12v, 80mm computer case fans and 1-2 pieces of flat carbon filter. Filters are inexpensive and most everyone has an old non-working computer with a fan just waiting to be repurposed. The same type of carbon filter material used in fume hoods for solder smoke/fume extraction is perfect for this project. You can easily cut the filter material with scissors to fit inside the box. Once printed, simply slip a layer of carbon filter into the box, then insert the fan. The fan screws securely into the back of the box using the same screws you would use on a computer. The fan holds the filter in place, but if the blades scrape the filter when spinning, you may need to gently press the fan side of the filter into the box. I experienced this issue during my first install, but the filter has remained securely in place for several months now. Depending on your filter thickness, you might encounter more difficulty with scraping. With a standard 12V fan, this setup is incredibly effective at sucking away fumes. You can clearly see a line of smoke being drawn straight off the soldering iron into the filter. Simply position the fan next to where you're soldering and watch as the smoke disappears. I experimented with printing some feet that clip into the bottom of the box, but so far, this approach hasn't yielded the desired results. A better solution would be to find a way to prop up or hold the box at an angle near your work area.