Cooling fans and their settings.

[GAQ]

Hi All,

Recently, I've been reading loads of suggested settings for different materials / slicers / machines...

I've noted that people often comment on the speed setting of their component cooling fan.
e.g. - "I set my cooling fan to 50%" - or similar.

Now I've looked at photographs of many printer set-ups, and if there's one thing that varies more than anything else, it's the position and use of the component cooling fan !

Some use axial fans, others (Like myself) have favoured a radial fan.
We position these differently according to our needs / preferences.
They will all surely work differently ?

If someone suggests a temperature / nozzle diameter / print speed etc, then these are measurable settings fairly fixed and fairly constant from machine to machine...

Component cooling fan measuring is left to a hand placed under a raised head, the fan setting set to 100% and some subjective feeling as to how it's blowing...

Unless someone knows differently ! - Is there a way to actually get a better idea as to how a particular fan set-up is working ?
One man's (Or woman's for that matter) 50% setting may be providing more cooling than another's running flat out.

Gerry

[William]

Hi, The flow direction of the axial fan is that the blade pushes the air to flow in the same direction as the shaft, and the flow direction of the radial fan is the direction in which the blade pushes the air perpendicular to the axis. You can change it according to your needs.about 50% setting is for the fan to run more smoothly.

[GAQ]

I'm sorry William,

It may be the translation, but I don't think you get the point of my post.

I KNOW the difference between Axial and Radial fans, I know their strengths and weaknesses.
I made an informed choice for the radial fan as I use an air duct to direct the flow all around the printer nozzle...

Most people fit a very cheap radial fan (Hamster cage style blower for those not sure !)
They're usually 50mm diameter with a 15mm x 20mm rectangular exit for the air flow.
They are 2 wire 12V and we wire them to the PWM socket on the board.

Now, as a consequence of this, they are NOT too stable below 50% running speed,
they prefer to be running faster as they were never designed to be run slowly.
Hence running at 50% doesn't make the fan run smoothly. Quite the opposite.
The slower they run, the rougher they get.

None of this answers the question which was...

"Is there a way of measuring the effectiveness of a particular fan set up that is better than just a subjective 'Hand under the nozzle' guesstimate" ?

In other words - If I'm running at 75%, how does that compare with someone else's 50% ?

Gerry

[GAQ]

Info on how to remove accidental double posts would be good !

[William]

OH, I think it's just different speeds, just the difference between full speed and normal rotation.

[GAQ]

Hi William,
And that's the point.
When we attempt to make things 'Capable' in manufacturing, we try to get everything measurable and consistent...
With regards to cooling fans for the component, we seem to be stuck with trying to get things 'Consistent'.
i.e. If I find that it helps to have (x) temp, (y) size nozzle size and (z) print speed for a certain material on say a 'Benchy' model, then that is transferable...
But if I find it helps to have my cooling at 75%, then that is only relevant for my particular machine configuration.
We seem to have no way of measuring this variable.
Hence, comments regarding the fan speed in a Slic3r configuration are generally irrelevant.
Unless someone comes up with a way to measure / standardise them.
Gerry

[William]

Yes, I agree with you. The main function of the fan is to cool and dissipate while printing.

[_kaktus_]

Hi.


I think that in order to systematize the discussed topic it would be necessary to make a duct with an airflow meter.

By placing any fan on its inlet, it is possible to measure what is invisible.
But then every user would have to buy it.

Making such a device even for comparison purposes is not complicated.