3D Printed Micro Swamp Cooler

The other day, I was browsing a big-box store and spotted one of those tiny swamp-cooler-style units marketed as a "portable air conditioner." I thought it looked pretty cool, but there was no way I was dropping $40 on what's essentially a fan glued to a piece of plastic. So I figured, why not build my own using my 3D printer and some spare hobby fans I had sitting in a drawer?

This is the story of how I built a working version for under $10 using junk parts and a 3D printer — along with the instructions, so you can follow along and build your own!

For supplies, you'll need some cheap wire, small DC craft motors, and a way to power them with a battery. You can find inexpensive kits on Amazon that include craft motors, fans, and battery holders (usually around $10 for a multi-pack), but honestly, whatever spare parts you've got in a junk drawer will probably do the job just fine. You'll also need a 3D printer, though don't worry about needing anything fancy; an old Ender 3 will work just as well as a brand-new X2D for this design. And, as should go without saying, you'll need some way to join your wires together. I went with soldering, but WAGO connectors or another wire-joining method would work too.

(Note: in the above image, some parts are missing as I was printing as I went, but I don't suggest this method just so you can keep track of everything)

Here's the links to where you can find the model on either Makerworld or Printables:

Printables Makerworld.

The recommended settings are included in the .3MF file itself, but the TLDR is: stick with pretty standard 0.2mm layer height settings, with one exception: enable ironing on the top surface of the drip tray so it leaks a little less.

Depending on the quality of your printer and slicer settings, you may find you need to take a file and smooth down some of the edges to get things to sit properly. Just make sure you don't grind out too much and leave enough material where the Fan motor press fits in.

Really nothing to say here; just push the motor in and then pop the fan on.

You can go back and file it down a little more if it doesn't fit correctly, but it should be a nice, smooth fit.

For right now, you're just checking that they fit. Later, put in the ice once it's wired.

Here's a general visual of how I wired mine. The exact method doesn't really matter; in my case, I used an on/off switch with a 9V battery and ran the leads up to the motor. I also left a second switch with two leads coming off the side, in case I ever want to add a water recirculation pump down the line.

Load the thing with ice, pop on the lid, and you're done! You've just succeeded in making a portable swamp cooler with a 3D printer and junk you probably already had in your drawer. Hey, one of the advantages of printing it yourself is that you can make it whatever color fits your aesthetic best.

Till next time -W