Ender 3 Silent Fan Upgrade (Upgraded Pro Vs Stock V2)

Previously I upgraded my Ender 3 Pro with a silent stepper board. Now the fans are the loudest components, so they are the next to be changed out.

The sound and temperature measurements I took are very approximate. I included them for reference.

The total cost of my printer including all the upgrades is about $310. The 3D Printer is now about as loud as a desktop computer.

Affiliate links to the products I used for this project are listed below:

Creality Ender 3 Pro

Better Printer - Voxelab Aquila:

Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX
Noctua NF-A4x20 FLX
Noctua NF-A6x25 PWM
Noctua NF-A9x14 PWM

DC to DC Buck Converter Step Down Module

Was compared against Creality Ender 3 v2

FLIR ONE PRO Thermal Camera:

[MR_G]

As a fairly experienced gaming computer builder, doubling up fans doesn't work as well as people would think, and the difference it makes is very very minor. The only time a 2 fan configuration works well is when you have a push fan on a cooling radiator with a pull fan the other end

[medykD]

The difference is huge. Great video. 3 Noctuas are about $50 but you need to buy four so you can elevate the printer on the boxes :)

[mynameismynameis]

this is one of the most violent modding videos i have ever seen. so much aluminum scissoring, i cried out in pain...

[jeffz]

How to hack up your Ender 3 should be the name of this video.

[cynic]

Did you test airflow where you stacked up the fans? Generally that results in a loss of air flow of the more powerful fan from the resistance of the less powerful fan in its air stream. The less powerful fan doesn’t increase in airflow at all so it results in a net loss. Without a chamber in between the two like a PC case for example it’s regarded as a bad idea. This is why you never see it even in industrial applications unless very very specifically engineered as such…I can’t find an example of when it works well but I’m sure there is…

CPS makes a reliable cheap airflow meter if you want to test it yourself.

[antlu]

E3V2 fan noise was ridiculous - and the heatsink fan was always active. One day I finally had enough. I took the cheaper route and replaced stock fans with generic 24V fans run at 12V. Added a PCB mod where the heatsink fan is only active above a threshold temperature. Feel better now - I hated all that noise lol. 🙉

[mysteriouspikachuman]

Warning, noctua airflow may not be sufficient if you're running high temp, high speed or just a demanding hotend, so beware. However, you can use them for stuff like electronics, as they need less airflow and babysitting than your hotend.

[NickShl]

Two fan in a series? That is hilarious! 😂
It will not give you a better performance than one fan. It make sense only if two fans spins in different directions(one clockwise and another counterclockwise) which isn't the case in your installation.

[VinzntR]

Turn the fan of the power supply around so it sucks out, the warm air (that already tries to go up anyway) will be sucked out and replaced with cool air from the bottom. This will improve cooling efficiency of the PSU. Also keep in mind that while cutting away metal improves airflow so that's a good thing, but it will also increase dust so be sure to blow out any buildup of dust (with can of compressed air) before it's sticking to your components and can't be removed with a compressed air can anymore.

[christopherpoulton]

Wont the first fan force the original fan to spin and create a charge????

[snax_]

The solution for the PSU is excellent and easy!

[mrhogey]

That’s cool I’ll probably do this later. After I get a few print under my belt

[Petro_Bandera]

But a part cooling fan is still stock. It's not completely silent because biggest noise exactly from the part cooling fan and it is almost impossible to replace because there is a 24v controlled by pwm. You can install noctura fan there and limit fan speed in the slicer but guarantee that this will always work properly.

[tobias]

When the Fans cost 30% of the whole Printer.

[specCon]

Great video and yes the Aquila from voxelab is wonderful I bought it as my first printer and have built it out from there way better starting point then my buddy with his ender 3 doing this upgrade now. Thanks for the tutorial lots of help keep it up!

[IowaMan]

wouldn't you want to unplug the other fan inside of the psu since the noctua will be blowing on that fan causing it to spin and could create a charge that could short out?

[dericklong]

This has been a while ago but you ever figure out that you can print mods to fit all these fans on there

[snailer]

6:07 The airflow is upside down on the PSU (The PSU is upside down). The fan should suck cool air from below and release it out the top vent holes.

[ericc]

nice work man, i just ordered the Ender 3 V2, and why i was at it i also ordered the Dual Screw Rod Upgrade Kit, BL Touch Self Leveling Sensor kit, BIGTREETECH TFT35 E3 V3.0 Touch Screen, CR10 Heatsink Hotend Kit, Upgraded Aluminum Dual Gear Pulley Dual Drive Extruder Kit and the FYSETC heat bed gold springs. Cannot wait to get this bad boy all together.

[KBOSGroundAgent]

The best question is why his motherboard is upside down