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    Custom cooler

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by iamapato01, May 18, 2006.

  1. iamapato01

    iamapato01 Notebook Consultant

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    I am going to have access to CAD operated mills and other machines in college, free to use. I plan on getting some 1/8" aluminum or maybe slightly thinner and milling out a totally cool design, then mounting four 7mm fans underneath and wiring them all together. Then I will make some kind of USB or AC adapter to power them all. I may use 10mm fans for more CFM but that will sacrifice the low noise of 7mm fans.
    It's going to be basically a sheet of aluminum with all the fans on the bottom and a bend at the back, then several rubber pads on the top to support the laptop.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...wered+by+USB+port+Model+NC-500+(USB)+-+Retail
    like that except custom. WHADYA THINK?
     
    iamapato01, May 18, 2006
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  2. Mark

    Mark Desktop Debugger

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    That is sweet, are you studying mechanical engineering? I study it at the University of Utah, having access to those machines is sweet. I would see go for it. You might want to use the most thermal conductive material you can though, and if you really want to try to put some fin on it to increase the rate of heat transfer! :) Good luck, post some pics when you are done!
     
    Mark, May 18, 2006
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  3. iamapato01

    iamapato01 Notebook Consultant

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    Yes I am studying ME this Fall. It will be a while until I get everything dialed but once I do I will surely show you all.
     
    iamapato01, May 21, 2006
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  4. abcd12345

    abcd12345 Notebook Consultant

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    Sweet! I emailed Bytecc last week and ask them to make a custom version of their NC-500 with 4 fans, pretty much like what you have in mind. I didn't get any answers so I think they couldn't do that.

    Could you make two?! ;) I'll pay for it.
    sam
     
    abcd12345, May 21, 2006
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  5. iamapato01

    iamapato01 Notebook Consultant

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    Sure I guess. I have to do a little research first. My Acer has one fan in the upper right that sucks air in and blows it out the side, and then there are 2 vents with just heatsinks on the other side of the laptop. I would have to make one of the 4 fans blow up and the rest blow out so its not fighting the laptop's fan.
    Remember this probably wont happen for quite a while. Most likely then end of 2006 or later.
     
    iamapato01, May 21, 2006
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  6. ericlala

    ericlala Notebook Consultant

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    i would say find the exact spot of where your vents are and position fans accordingly. i doubt conduction will be help any since most laptops are on rubber feets. also maybe u can make a notch somewhere so you can "dock" your laptop on the cooler in the exact same position everytime
     
    ericlala, May 21, 2006
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  7. Cyrus

    Cyrus Notebook Guru

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    Sweet idea...

    I was also thinking about creating a custom (passive) cooling pad out of aluminum. It's fairly easy to melt and cast Al (it's cheap at about $0.48 a pound), and one could make essentially a very, very large heatsink, and Al is very thermally conductive...

    Are the passive "cooling pads" that work by merely elevating the notebook at a slight angle to facilitate airflow useful at all, or are they relatively worthless? I would just want something to set my notebook on while using it at a desk.

    Cy
     
    Cyrus, May 25, 2006
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  8. Smith2688

    Smith2688 Notebook Evangelist

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    AFAIK, smaller fans are noisier since they have to spin faster to move similar amounts of air...

    I'd get some nice, big 12cm fans for more quiet cooling.
     
    Smith2688, May 25, 2006
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