Anyone into 3D printers?

PM’d you

Be easy to print id struggle to make the 3d moddle though

Looks like it shouldn't be too difficult to print, though some slight changes might be needed to make it print easier.

Modeling it can easily take as long as printing it. There are devices for creating 3D models from a series of images, though it might be better to parametric model to suit printing.

I wouldnt have thought it would take long to make something very similar. Change a few little things but it would still blow air and thats the main thing.

Kenlowe fan?

I would be cautious to 3d print a fan blade part – if its failure could cause any damage to other components – radiators/ oil coolers/ pipework. The obvious easiest print orientation is going to give you the best centripetal strength, but potentially the weakest in the mounting hub area. I would suggest that a direct replica would not be the way forward if 3d printing is a necessity – but a modified design to give you the best hope factoring layer separation weaknesses, etc.

You really want to consider a more exotic filament than ABS/PETG – a glass fibre/nylon might be a good starting point. The working temperatures, dynamic forces and thermal cycling could give a hard life to this 3d printed fan blade in an industrial machine application.

3D printers are great options and open a whole world of low cost spare parts – but a false economy if the component takes out a hydraulic system or engine cooling system if it catastrophically fails.

I'd be very cautious. Additive manufacturing is useful in certain situations but in others you're just asking for trouble, particularly when tensile strength is an issue (print orientation plays a major part in this, BTW). Another thing I'd add is that where I work we're seeing 3D printed plastic components fracturing at much lower levels of strain than those which were produced by injection moulding.

Fans break! Just take more tea breaks.