Heatsinks

[DrLuigi]

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!

[ciutateivissa]

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.

[DrLuigi]

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 ^^

[MeoWorks]

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

[DrLuigi]

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

[MeoWorks]

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.

[RP Iron Man]

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

[KDog]

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.

[DrLuigi]

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

[jimc]

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.