Turnigy Fabrikator Mini Cooling Fan stand

thingiverse

While the Turnigy Fabrikator Mini is great value for money it has a design problem: the servos get very very hot. For me about 40 minutes into each print the X-axis servo moving the platform started squealing. I could feel the heat radiating off it. I was worried it would die on me any moment. First I tried adding the simple feet posted by someone here. The difference was minimal. Active cooling was the only solution I could imagine that would keep the servos from dying pretty soon. So born was the fan stand. A 120mm computer case fan for $5, combined with some feet to keep it off the table and a holder attachment to place the printer on works brilliant. Now the X-axis servo does not feel warm any more, the Y-axis too benefits a lot, but due to the larger distance from the cool air stream it now is the warmest part. The design I uploaded is the final version in a series of optimised designs. I hope it helps you preserve the life expectancy of your printers too! I am still a beginner, so forgive me that the Repetier complains that the model is not manifold. Don't worry: Using the Cura slicer it prints perfectly fine, see print settings though! Important note: print only 2 of the printer holder parts (top part), then create a mirror image and print 2 more. The 4 feet at the bottom are all identical. Print Settings Rafts: No Supports: Yes Resolution: 0.2mm Notes: Since the parts are designed to hold the whole printer with spool holder they have to be fairly sturdy. I printed with a shell thickness and top/bottom thickness of 1mm, which means most of the structure is solid. Important note: print only 2 of the printer holder parts (top part), then create a mirror image and print 2 more. The 4 feet at the bottom are all identical. Post-Printing Parts & Assembly You need: one 120mm computer case fan. I used a Coolermaster SilentFan, the cheapest brand name fan I could find. If you use a different fan you might need to change the foot/holder design slightly to match its shape. 8 screws (my fan came with 4, I had another 4 from a different fan) one little switch to be spliced into the wire to turn off the fan 3D prints of the attached files, 4 feet, 2 holders as is, 2 holders mirror image Assembly then is straightforward. 1) Use screws to attach the 4 feet to the outlet side of the fan, we want air to be sucked in from the top where the printer is and expelled out from the bottom. Less risk of blowing dust or anything towards the print platform that way. 2) Place your printer loosely on top of the 4 printer holders, that helps you sort out which ones go where (they are 2 mirror-image versions for a reason). Then use screws to attach the 4 printer holders to the top of the fan (air inlet side). 3) Disconnect printer from power and USB before this step. The fan comes with 3 wires, yellow is not needed and can be cut off. Splice your switch into the red wire, then connect red and black wires to positive and negative terminals in your printer. 4) Place printer on top of fan holder. Re-connect power. Check that fan starts when switch is on. Enjoy! p.s.: before someone complains: some photos were taken during development, when the foot was a little less tall. I found the extra height in the final version gives a smoother air stream. Parts before assembly One of 4 sides assembled All assembled With printer, ready for action! Electrical Connection - 12V fan wired straight to 12V supply side of printer