Fractal North ducting shroud

Ducting shroud for the Fractal North PC case, allowing the extraction of the hot air exhaust through 150mm ducting/flex hose. Makes no permanent modifications to the PC case!

Powered by 2x 140mm PC fans sandwiched between the shroud and the ducting manifold. I am powering and controlling the fans from my PC, by simply running a fan extender cable out the back of the case. Use something like https://getfancontrol.com/ to control the fan speed.

All pieces are divided up into parts to allow printing on regular printers(such as Prusa mk3, mk4 and Core One). 

Combine it with the matching window nozzle in case you want to duct the hot exhaust out of a window:

***Update***: I had forgotten that I had to cut off a bit of the flanges on the "Fractal North top duct - top" when I made it, so that it could fit the support bar I had later added on the "Fractal North top duct - front". The files are updated now so it should all fit together. If you downloaded/printed the files before this change, you can also just cut/file a bit of the bottom of the flanges away.

Printing

Print in PETG or similar, as venting hot air could potentially slowly deform PLA.

I recommend you try the included 3mf-files in Prusaslicer, which includes necessary settings and custom support. The parts are a bit flimsy and can warp during printing. However all my prints came out functional enough, so I did not bother to optimise it further.

Settings used:

Layer height: 0.2.

Avoid crossing curled overhangs: ON.

Brim: On, 5mm.

Support: On, Organic, For support enforcers only(paint on supports in strategic positions. All the small 3x3mm squares inside the parts are for adding support to stiffen it during printing).

Print time total on Core One: Shroud: ~12h, Manifold: ~9.5h

Filament used total: Shroud: 400g, Manifold: ~300g

Assembly

Remove brims and support and carefully cut out the thin support wall inside the flanges on the manifold parts.

Align the pieces of the shells with each other and temporarily secure them with packing tape or similar along the outside of the shroud and manifold. Once in place, glue the parts together with super glue or similar along the inside edges. You might want to apply a bit of force by putting a heavy object and/or clamps along the seams while the glue sets. Especially if some of the parts have warped a little during printing.

Place the "Fractal North top duct - top brace" inside the "Fractal North top duct - top" so it sits on top of the rear of the case when the shroud is mounted(see images). Secure it in place with glue, double-sided tape or whatever else you prefer(some of the extra plastic rivets from Prusa printers work too).

Mount the two 140mm fans on the outside of the shroud by putting fan screws through from the inside of the shroud. Check that the direction of the fans pushes the air out of the shroud.

Drill 2x 1-1.5mm holes roughly 20mm apart in the lip in the front of the shroud. Bend a paper clip in a U-shape so its legs fits through the holes, and push it through the holes so the legs stick out.

Take the top mesh panel off the case and lay it in place in the shroud. Stick the legs of the paper clip through the mesh. Once satisfied with the position, bend the legs of the paper clip to lock the mesh panel in place(see image). You can do the same at the back of the mesh panel by tying a paper clip through the mesh down through the brace, but gravity will keep it in place once mounted anyway.

Mount the manifold to the other side of the two 140mm fans. Works both pointing down or upwards, depending on where you want to duct the air.

Now carefully flip over the shroud and lay it on top of the PC case, then slide the mesh panel into place. The back of the shroud should now sit flush against the back of the case as well.

I did put two thumbscrews through the mesh on the back of the PC case, aligned in height so the bottom of the shroud gently rests on them(see image). This should take a bit of strain off the top of the case/mesh panel.

See also