What a gale!

thingiverse

Why venture outside to seek natural wind when you can create your own wind in the comfort of your home? I'm proud to introduce "The Gale," a compact and efficient desktop USB fan. This little gem is currently operating at reduced capacity due to some technical issues with the fan unit, but it still produces a noticeable breeze. Please share your experience with this device and let me know how well it works for you. Edit 1: After careful consideration, I decided that my best approach would be to source an existing fan equipped with a DC brush-less motor and a functioning fan unit. This would resolve the problem of overheating motors and loose printed fans, which is not ideal. Hopefully, this solution will also provide sufficient airflow through The Gale. I've acquired the desired fan (available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAVFY-Portable-Retro-Mini-Plastic/dp/B00JUK0UDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438632685&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+fan) and modified it to create a compact design. The black housing now protrudes only 5-10mm from the circuit board, which serves as a mounting solution and fits perfectly into the "motor mounting plate v2." To complete this setup, you'll need to print the "ring mount retrofit" and glue it into the top of "casing_pt1" to secure the main ring assembly. The USB fan comes with an on/off switch that can be easily adapted to replace the speed controller by modifying the round hole to a rectangular shape. The airflow is sufficient at maximum settings, so you won't need to worry about adjusting the speed. Edit 2: Following several requests for a smaller version of The Gale, I've finally yielded to pressure and created a compact design. In the included zip file, you'll find the ring parts that form a 140mm diameter fan outlet and a base with a 95mm internal diameter. However, please note that you'll need to design your own motor mounting plate to accommodate the motor of your choice. Enjoy using The Gale!