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Replacing Fans

The fans on your MY-Mini 3D Printer are essential for cooling the hotend and the printed part. If a fan becomes noisy or fails, it needs to be replaced. This guide provides the steps to replace the hotend and part cooling fans.

Tools Required

  • Hex key set
  • Small Phillips head screwdriver
  • Wire cutters and strippers (if the new fan does not have a connector)
  • Heat shrink tubing and a heat gun (optional, for a cleaner connection)
  • Zip ties

Safety First

  • Turn off and unplug the printer: Before you begin, ensure the printer is completely powered off and disconnected from the mains.
  • Let the hotend cool down: If you have been printing, allow the hotend to cool down completely.

Procedure

1. Access the Fans

  1. You will likely need to remove the cover or shroud from the print head to access the fans. This is typically held in place by a few screws.
  2. Take note of how the wires are routed as you disassemble the print head.

2. Identify the Fans

  • Hotend Fan: This fan is mounted on the side of the hotend and blows air over the cooling fins. It is crucial for preventing heat creep.
  • Part Cooling Fan: This fan is usually a blower-style fan and is directed at the nozzle tip to cool the filament as it is extruded.

3. Remove the Old Fan

  1. Unscrew the fan you wish to replace from its mounting point.
  2. Follow the fan's wires back to the mainboard or a breakout board. Unplug the connector.
  3. If the fan is wired directly without a connector, you will need to cut the wires. Cut them a few inches from the board to leave some wire to connect the new fan to.

4. Install the New Fan

  1. If the new fan has a connector: Simply plug it into the corresponding port on the board.
  2. If you need to splice the wires:
    • Strip a small amount of insulation from the ends of the old and new fan wires.
    • Twist the corresponding wires together (red to red, black to black).
    • Solder the wires for a secure connection, or use a suitable connector.
    • Cover the connection with heat shrink tubing and use a heat gun to shrink it. This will insulate and protect the connection.
  3. Mount the new fan in the same orientation as the old one. Ensure it is blowing in the correct direction.
  4. Secure the fan with its screws.

5. Reassemble and Test

  1. Reattach the print head cover/shroud.
  2. Tidy up the wiring and use zip ties to secure it, ensuring that nothing can get caught in the moving parts of the printer.
  3. Plug in and turn on the printer.
  4. Use the printer's control panel to turn on the fans and verify that they are spinning correctly.

By following these steps, you can successfully replace a faulty fan and ensure your MY-Mini 3D Printer continues to operate reliably.