# Fan queston for you gurus **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware\ **Created:** [May 11, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/fan-queston-for-you-gurus/1745 "2015-05-11T18:15:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wolfie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Wolfie](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/Wolfie)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/fan-queston-for-you-gurus/1745/1 "2015-05-11T18:15:32Z")
So, I am embarking on a design project and had some things I want to clear up. I had some questions about the cooling fan (not the heat sink fan, the extrusion cooling fan, starboard side, 24v). Just trying to wrap my head around it. I see so many different fan shroud designs. Some seem to aim right at the nozzle tip best they can, others seem to be aimed down at where the part would be. Just exactly what is it supposed to be cooling? Are we wanting it to cool the filament as its being extruded out of the nozzle, or is it supposed to be cooling the part already printed? I print primarily in ABS so I very rarely use the cooling fan. I see lots of references to it with PLA so I presume its pretty critical for that material. Anyone care to share the logic surrounding this fan appendage? ---
**Author:** ![ray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9a140/32.png) [@ray](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/ray)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/fan-queston-for-you-gurus/1745/2 "2015-05-11T20:56:21Z")
Hi Wolfie, I would say, point the fan shroud so that it cools the material just as is extruded form the nozzle and touches the layer beneath. The fan should be able to aid with bridging, which is printing over open space, as well as printing overhangs and fine details, for which you want to cool the material quickly to avoid any droopiness. For PLA I do like to keep my fan blowing high, and ABS just a tad for detail’s sake. 💡 A note, if you are working on this already, you may want to look into adding fans blowing from left and right. This will aid in effectiveness for PLA prints and bridging with all materials. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Wolfie](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/Wolfie)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/fan-queston-for-you-gurus/1745/3 "2015-05-11T21:25:07Z")
I already have the mounting plate from my prior hexagon project that has a left side mounting place, so yes, both port and starboard fans are a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![choban](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@choban](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/choban)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 12:20pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/fan-queston-for-you-gurus/1745/4 "2015-05-29T12:20:59Z")
Wolfie Can you share what the hexagon mounting plate looks like for a double side cooling fan. Are you using a standard Hexagon hot end or the one that ships with the TAZ 5. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Wolfie](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/Wolfie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/fan-queston-for-you-gurus/1745/5 "2015-05-29T14:25:25Z")
> [@choban](#): > > Wolfie > Can you share what the hexagon mounting plate looks like for a double side cooling fan. Are you using a standard Hexagon hot end or the one that ships with the TAZ 5. Full load of images from the project are in this album: [http://www.ipernity.com/doc/wolfie/album/773974](http://www.ipernity.com/doc/wolfie/album/773974) Here is one of the images of the plate: Yes, I am using Lulz’ version of the Hex hot end. The reprap one is distinctly longer. Full details of the build is in this thread here on the forums: > [@30/40mm Heat Sink Fan for Taz + Hexagon](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/30-40mm-heat-sink-fan-for-taz-hexagon/1630/1): > > I thought some folks might not stumble into the other thread that wasn’t titled well for this project. So I collected the relevant posts into this one initial post so the thread has a collective home that is properly titled. Here is the new fan shroud and mount plate: [http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:766633](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:766633) Enjoy. Let me know if you build one and what your results are. The following hardware list assumes you would be converting an existing single hex extruder head from Lulz and would be us…