ULTIMAKER UPGRADE - Cooling Fans

I have developed a great solution to the Ultimaker's pitiful cooling fan. This video covers why I wanted to replace the original fan shroud the snags that I ran into along the way and how I fixed them. I had issues with the PWM interfering with the thermocouple and cooling the heated bed too much. Ultimately I was able to make a 2 mini fan cooling system that works better than any other I have seen. Lightweight, good air flow, and easy to install and uninstall are what separate my cooling fans from other designs. I also show how I used my new fans to print a T-Rex skull.

Download Models:

40mm Fans:

16mm Fans:

20mm Fans:

Darlington Transistor:

[matthewhall]

I literally just did the same thing with the Darlington transistor as you I'm so pissed with myself right now it doesn't smell good I'm so thankful I remembered you did something like this and you have put the link for the thing I need in the description your an absolute legend

[toolzgalore]

FAN-tastic... I couldn't resist. You are awesome for posting all of this and what you did as far as going through all of your steps and pitfalls. Another thing is you ACTUALLY included the links to everything you designed!

I will be printing these out and potentially designing another iteration that uses squirrel cage 4 wire PWM fans for more granular fan control.

Thanks again!

[IlluminatedWhiteGuy]

I'm thinking about using an off head ball bearing fan with a cowl that reduces down to 1/2" ID and running the cooling air through a silicone tube to an aluminum tube directed at the filament as it exits the extruder. That would drop nearly all the cooling gear weight off the head. You could even incorporate a Peltier junction cooler with heat sinks to further cool the air inside the cowl prior to pumping it to the head. You also could have wired your 2 small fans in series then  regulated the voltage down to 10vdc from the 19vdc, though simply adding a resistor in series along with the 2 fans would have still left you the option to regulate the fan speed by PWM. Adding a small heatsink with compound to your regulators never hurts either. These videos are cool, they help sort out the issues for everyone for smoother sailing.

[ntwede]

I'm really glad to learn I'm not the only person to have burned out a component on the controller board. I'm really hopeful I can fix it like you did, otherwise, I just made a $300< mistake.

[jameskdoherty]

Great video. I have a chance to buy a used Ultimaker with a heated bed and bowden clamp already installed. The seller made a new video of the machine working, all looks good, It seems like a good deal but off the top of your head are there any typical problem areas with Ultimaker that might be an issue with a used machine? Do you get your filament direct from Ultimaker or a US supplier? Thank you. 

[nardusuys]

Great work on solving some of the frustrations! I had to get going with my ultimaker2 and never had the time to play around with it. Question: Will these work on the Ultimaker2? Does it help to reduce warping on ABS? I tried everything I could find on large ABS prints, but nothing solved the warping issue. Thanks!

[tomrussell]

Help!  ruined the stock fan(Ultimaker), bought small fans, printed (LH)shroud and it won't turn the fan...  no magic smoke yet....  do i need a regulator?
how do I test the fan(s) to see if they are running??? can i talk with u direct?

[Azmodan]

I was the one who showed at the beginning of the film and also melted because it was fixed in 2 points at the same height so did its own attached 2 heights even more massive but not moving. I began to sculpt from head ultimekera ... not to have to measure the angulation etc ...

[Chrisshao]

I am really interested in 3D printing, is there any prior knowledge needed to get started? (Something I should learn first? or any heads up?) Thanks. 

[SmiteoPuzzles]

have you added any fans ABOVE the hot-end? my UMO keeps getting plugs above the PEEK

[karandex]

you have under extrusion problem with that t rex. increase temp or decrease speed

[bitsurfer]

You would get interference from the fans if you don't have a silicone sock to help stabilize the temperature

[benthillerup]

Do you have cooling on, when printing in ABS?

[discoverytraveller]

i was trying to do the same which is adding up active cooling fan on replicator 2x and i think i blew up something..

can you please help me??

Thanks!!

[rraaddff]

is there a can that i can just plug to my computer by usb?

[robertmagie]

Is there a reason for two fans instead of one?