Overengineered Fume Extractor, Version 2

We all know the temptation of adding one more feature to your latest project. [Arnov Sharma] didn’t resist the urge. Building on his 3D-printed fume extractor, he developed a new version made of PCB material.

The device has a 18650 battery and corrects several flaws in the original design we covered earlier. In particular, the new version uses a quiet fan and consumes less power. There is also a 3D-printed filter housing that uses cotton as a filter media.

Like the previous version, an ATTiny controls the motor speed. The board uses surface mount components, although we imagine you could reproduce the device with through-hole components if you were so inclined.

This would be an easy build for a soldering station. We wonder, too, if it would help with a smelly resin printer. We might add activated carbon to the filter and while the battery is handy, we imagine most places we want it, we’d be just as happy to have it plugged in.

We always like the use of PCBs as structural elements. After all, it is a cheap way to get a precision-machined piece of fiberglass. We’ve even seen the trick used for wrenches.

12 thoughts on “Overengineered Fume Extractor, Version 2

  1. Why run it from a battery? When you’re soldering your iron, and any spotlights will all be running from locally present (adapted down) mains AC power. Why not have the fan run from a wall wart instead of an inbuilt battery and avoid recharging bothers. A soldering fan is not at item which you need to make portable, you only use it in combination with things that can’t be used on the go and away from sockets.

    1. I see your point but I often find myself soldering bits and pieces ‘in situ’ using my USB iron and a battery pack. This might be a good pairing for that sort of task.

      As the title says it’s a bit overengineered – I can’t imagine I’d ever get round to building it.

    2. I had made one from a 12V fan and filter and powered it from the USB hub I have on the desk through a step up converter.
      Then i mounted the fan on a power bank i got for free and it became portable.

      There are clear advantages to having it portable. Easier to use, position and handle.
      Not life changing advantages, but advantages non the less.

  2. I have a hakko knock off. I replaced the fan with a noctua, and this makes me wonder if I can alter this design to fit in the enclosure and run off a standard 12V source. I feel inspired

  3. As Rob implied, this is overengineered stupidity. None of those features are required or even useful. Moreover that fan is way too small to be useful. Why 5V? Why a battery near a +300deg C soldering iron? Why a PCB? Holy geezus this is not engineering. My fume extractor is a 120mm fan inside a tupperware with some holes cutout for a powerbutton and cable (12V wall wart). Took me 15 minutes to build and i was back to soldering USEFUL projects afterwards.

  4. Brilliant design and all that, but this might be more appropriately called Fume Diffuser. Certainly takes it out of your eyes and nose and spreads the toxic fumes around the room so everyone can enjoy them.

    1. It is an accepted fact that diffusing something a bit toxic makes it less nasty than when concentrated. As a lot of the nastier particulates within solder fumes will probably be heavier than air (yes I know there’s no lead in the fumes, but organic molecules still outweigh air) then simply blowing them away will likely let them drop below breathing height before any of the fumes can return in your direction.

  5. Be sure to wear a helmet and goggles while using your mobile fume extractor…

    Other than in electronic manufacturing environments, other cases where one will be exposed to rosin fumes daily, or where fumes are obstructing your view of what you’re soldering, this fear of fumes is not appropriate.

    BTW, you ARE wearing eye protection, right, because a bit of flicked solder in your eye is more likely of a potential hazard than fumes?

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