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Thread: Heatsinks
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04-16-2014, 03:04 PM #1
Heatsinks
Hey guys,
I've seen some heatsinks on Thingiverse lately, That makes me think if PLA/ABS is a good heat conductor?
As my Stepper motors get realy hot (Y is quiet hot) To perhaps make a heatsink in ABS and do some thermalpaste on it and try to stick it on the motor?
But i first wanted to know if this was legit, or pretty useless.
Thanks!Last edited by DrLuigi; 04-16-2014 at 03:08 PM.
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04-16-2014, 05:15 PM #2
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DrLuigi,
if the stepper motors running hot, in worst case even after a short printing time, I would reduce the current to the motor. I had a similar problem with my printer as well and after reducing the current the motor doesn´t have more than 40 degrees. If this doesn´t solve your problem it makes some sense to use a heat sink, but not made of plastics but aluminium.
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04-16-2014, 06:00 PM #3
Well the current is quiet well, aprox 0.389 and the ideal is 0.39, so that shouldnt be the problem.
Kinda just wondered if plastic wouldnt conduct it a bit either would make it easyer then hunting down a to small/to big heatsink ^^
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04-16-2014, 06:26 PM #4
Nah, plastic isn't a good conductor of energy, more than likely it'll insulate the motor haha.
I buy small 1cmx1cm video card heatsinks and stick then to the metal parts of my motors, keeps then nice and cool
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04-16-2014, 06:40 PM #5
So you paste 8-9 heatsinks on your motors?
Do you have a fan on em, So before the heatsinks it was to hot to touch and now it is okay? right?
I am considering to buy this: https://www.dx.com/p/high-performanc...8#.U08UP_l_sj0
For my X and Y, Not for my E as it isnt that hot, aprox 50-70c i guess, and i guess it could cut the cables/trap the cables.
Should fit it just right hopefuly it isnt thicker then the advertised 1cm tho, else it wont :P
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04-16-2014, 07:04 PM #6
My heatsinks came with very thin adhesive so no paste needed. I stick about 6 on each motor and have a fan on them. This keeps the motor extremely cool to the touch. Motors used to be hot-ish, like they'll burn if you leave your finger on for too long haha. Like a hot tingle, nothing too extreme.
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04-16-2014, 08:11 PM #7
Plastic heat sink is a big no-no since it will just insulate the steppers. You don't really need a heat sink on the steppers if you have a fan blowing on them. Even a cheap fan strapped to the stepper will keep it cool.
Eric
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04-17-2014, 07:54 PM #8
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I have a fan attached to my extruder stepper with zit-ties. It keeps it completely cool where it was hot enough to burn before.
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04-18-2014, 11:14 AM #9
Thanks guys,
I guess i will buy 2 heatsinks, with some thermal paste and a little bit of fast glue, and look if it keeps it on the Stepper motors,
On the Y wich sometimes skips, i will use that and a fan to cool it off.
The X isnt a big problem, but is to hot so i will just do a heatsink on it and it will be good enough i guess
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04-18-2014, 08:35 PM #10
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Nothing wrong with some extra precaution but if your steppers are running that hot then you need to go into your firmware and turn the current down. I can run my printer all day long and the steppers are barely warm. The extruder is a bit warmer but you could never burn yourself on it. I have no heat sinks or fans on them at all. The printer is metal so there is some heat transfer there im sure.
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