apache-labs.com

My Andromeda runs hot. Too hot.
I haven't opened the bottom (brick) side yet, but the top side has an undirected fan and the little fan on the Intel NUC.

The top of the case has two fan punchouts with grilles, but the hole spacing is a bit strange, ~45mm. Does anyone know what fan model will fit that? I searched a bit at DigiKey and didn't find anything.

Assuming I'm successful in attaching the photo, you'll see there are no fans installed. Again, the hole-to-hole distance is roughly 45mm.

Thanks,
Jim N7CXI

What is the hole spacing?

I would look at the Noctua fans.
https://noctua.at/en/

It looks like somebody in the Apache CAD department simply copy/pasted a standard fan layout into the drawing rather than just laying out a pattern of vent holes. If it's a standard layout, and you say it's "~45mm", i.e. approximately 45mm, then if you sharpen your pencil is it perhaps exactly the dimensions necessary for an industry standard 50mm fan? There are hundreds (thousands?) of 50mm fans to choose from, just put "50mm fan" into Google or Amazon search.

45mm hole-to-hole is too far from 50mm to fit. There are many 60mm fan models available, but I couldn’t find any 55mm at all.

(“Standard” fan designs in that size range have cases 10mm larger edge-to-edge than hole-to-hole)

If there’s enough vertical clearance, I might be able to draw and print a plenum to adapt (for example) a single 120mm fan to both punch outs. Sounds too much like work, though..

73,
Jim N7CXI

Eh… Too early.

I missed on the numbers, but no standard case fans are available that I can find.

Edited: that's brilliant, Rick! You have to be right about those openings being for speakers (see Rick's post below).

Maybe they are punchouts for speakers. This video makes me think so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njayLIpMlHo

Like maybe these speakers:

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/243-FRWS5-4OHM

n1gp wrote:Maybe they are punchouts for speakers. This video makes me think so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njayLIpMlHo

Like maybe these speakers:

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/243-FRWS5-4OHM

That makes sense, thanks.
Those look like better-than-average speakers, too.

Perhaps a slip-on fan tray to go over the top rear of the case, then wire a pair of those speakers up in series.
My rig at least gets hotter than I'm comfortable with. I haven't measured it yet, but even RX-only operation over several hours heats it up more than I like. I'll put the thermal camera to use and get a few external shots, then prototype a fan tray. Hopefully I can pull enough air up through the top cover to be effective.

73,
Jim N7CXI

Correction:
Pull or push enough air through the side ventilation holes. The top doesn't have any beyond the apparent speaker punch outs.

73
Jim N7CXI

They are for speakers.... "why no speakers" is my question.

You can use an adapter 3d printed 50mm down to 40mm if you have the space. There are several on the following site. But can be adjusted.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2037140

n2gq wrote:You can use an adapter 3d printed 50mm down to 40mm if you have the space. There are several on the following site. But can be adjusted.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2037140

I'm not sure I can get enough air from two 40mm fans without "fan scream", but it would be a cheap enough experiment.
There should be plenty of vertical clearance. I was thinking about a plenum from the two grilles down to a single low-noise 120mm fan, but your idea suits my lazy streak - someone already did the CAD work.

Thanks!
Jim N7CXI

Well, at least the idea is sound. I'll have to change it for the "different" speaker mount pattern.
Whoever did the Thingiverse design took their time and made it pretty. Mine probably won't be as slippery.

73,
Jim N7CXI

N7CXI wrote:

n2gq wrote:You can use an adapter 3d printed 50mm down to 40mm if you have the space. There are several on the following site. But can be adjusted.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2037140

I'm not sure I can get enough air from two 40mm fans without "fan scream", but it would be a cheap enough experiment.
There should be plenty of vertical clearance. I was thinking about a plenum from the two grilles down to a single low-noise 120mm fan, but your idea suits my lazy streak - someone already did the CAD work.

Thanks!
Jim N7CXI

A plenum is nice as well with taller feet or a tray with ducts right at the speaker openings with a large quiet fan.
You are almost there good luck show what you come up with.