GMKtec NucBox M6 Improved Airflow Top Plate

I designed this top plate to improve airflow and cooling on the GMKtec NucBox M6.

I originally made it after installing a heatsink on an older NVMe drive that was running hot. The heatsink ended up colliding with the factory fan, so I designed four 3 mm spacers to raise the fan shroud and provide the needed clearance.

I also found that the stock top plate was restricting airflow, so I designed a replacement top plate with additional ventilation directly above the fan. It retains the original side vents while giving hot air a more direct path out of the case. This made a noticeable improvement in airflow and temperatures on my M6.

The design reuses the factory fan and hardware. The spacers are optional, so if you don't need the additional NVMe clearance, you can simply use the ventilated top plate on its own.

Spacer Installation Tip

The spacers can be a little tricky to keep in place while putting everything back together. An easy way to keep them aligned is to cut four pieces of filament about 2.5 inches long and place one into each threaded screw hole in the case.

Slide each spacer over the filament and position the fan shroud and top plate. The filament acts as a temporary alignment pin and keeps the spacers from moving or falling out.

Once everything is lined up, remove one piece of filament at a time and replace it with the corresponding screw. This keeps the remaining spacers aligned while you secure everything in place.

Printing Recommendations

• Material: PETG

• Layer Height: 0.2 mm

• Walls: 5

• Top/Bottom Layers: 5

• Infill: 20–25%

• Supports: None

PETG is recommended because of the heat generated inside the case