Macintosh SE or SE/30 Fan Bracket

reallyrandy

Tinkerer
Oct 30, 2021
187
81
28
New Jersey
I know this is an old thread but for those of you who are sans 3D printer, where do you get your 3D prints made? I tried PCBway for the fan bracket on Post#1 of this thread but the shipping is stupid expensive for an $8 part to New Jersey. there's no chance I'm clicking the "Place Order" button on that!

ScreenShot 2024-04-01 at 2.05.13 PM.jpg_sml.jpg_sml.jpg
 

alxlab

Active Tinkerer
Sep 23, 2021
290
319
63
www.alxlab.com
I know this is an old thread but for those of you who are sans 3D printer, where do you get your 3D prints made? I tried PCBway for the fan bracket on Post#1 of this thread but the shipping is stupid expensive for an $8 part to New Jersey. there's no chance I'm clicking the "Place Order" button on that!

View attachment 15943

You could try JLCPCB and see what they're charging.

Alternatively I could make one for you out of black PETG for $8 USD. I'd have to calculate the shipping though from Montreal to your address. PM me if your interested.
 

This Does Not Compute

Administrator
Staff member
Oct 27, 2021
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www.youtube.com
I know this is an old thread but for those of you who are sans 3D printer, where do you get your 3D prints made? I tried PCBway for the fan bracket on Post#1 of this thread but the shipping is stupid expensive for an $8 part to New Jersey. there's no chance I'm clicking the "Place Order" button on that!

View attachment 15943
Check with your local library, a lot of them have 3D printers now and the librarians can help you use it!
 

This Does Not Compute

Administrator
Staff member
Oct 27, 2021
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I keep seeing this on the Internet, which magical places have 3D printers in their libraries?
One of the major county library systems in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) offers it: https://www.rclreads.org/3d-printing
As does the St. Paul Public Library system: https://sppl.org/innovation-lab-equipment
Along with another Twin Cities county library system: https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/libraries/Using/iLab

That's just near me.

Chicago: https://www.chipublib.org/maker-lab
Los Angeles: https://www.lapl.org/labs/octavia-lab/3d-printing
Denver: https://www.denverlibrary.org/idealab3D
Washington, D.C.: https://www.dclibrary.org/using-the-library/maker-space-and-machinery-fabrication-lab
Boston: https://guides.bpl.org/c.php?g=1308326&p=9632039
Atlanta: https://www.cobbcounty.org/library/services/3d-printing

The list goes on.
 
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davewongillies

Tinkerer
Nov 2, 2021
45
50
18
CA, USA
One of the major county library systems in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) offers it: https://www.rclreads.org/3d-printing
As does the St. Paul Public Library system: https://sppl.org/innovation-lab-equipment
Along with another Twin Cities county library system: https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/libraries/Using/iLab

That's just near me.

Chicago: https://www.chipublib.org/maker-lab
Los Angeles: https://www.lapl.org/labs/octavia-lab/3d-printing
Denver: https://www.denverlibrary.org/idealab3D
Washington, D.C.: https://www.dclibrary.org/using-the-library/maker-space-and-machinery-fabrication-lab
Boston: https://guides.bpl.org/c.php?g=1308326&p=9632039
Atlanta: https://www.cobbcounty.org/library/services/3d-printing

The list goes on.
I'm in SF and SFPL only offers 3D printing to youth aged 12 through 18: https://themixatsfpl.org/made-at-the-mix
 

nickpunt

New Tinkerer
Jul 28, 2022
4
2
3
I'm in the process of finalising a production PCB design and designing a 3D fan housing model (similar to the one in this post) which would be able to hold the circuit board securely, I think the best place to locate the board (and therefore sensor) would be horizontally just above the fan, near the flyback cage, and in the 'dead' air space just below the top of the case, where the internal temps are likely to be highest.

I've also designed a test circuit and written a separate program for testing, which I'm in the process of wiring up to the Mac's serial port, so I can gather and save data to plot internal temp / fan PWM / fan RPM over time, which may be interesting for the community. Just need to wire it all up and spend some time capturing and plotting the data... I also plan to make some recordings, to compare the sound levels from stock fan / Noctua at full speed, and what the fan sounds like at different temperatures.

I'm thinking of making a small run of these boards and could make them available for a reasonable cost (£15 or less, depending on number).

Do message me if you're interested so I can gauge whether to order some parts for more than just me! Be aware though that this design requires a 4-pin PWM fan rather than the 3-pin style (which will always run at full speed if connected to the Mac's 12V supply).

Hey Ross, this looks like a fantastic solution to compact Mac heat issues. Do you have any updates on this? I imagine many people would be interested in what you've built as you've put in a lot of effort to solve this. Thanks!