An easy step to step Tutorial explaining how you can build an "USB Cooling Fan" for your notebook/desktop/whatever from an old or broken cd-rom drive. Enjoy.

You can follow that Instructable or just watch the video version:

Step 1: Dismantle the Drive

Dismantle the (broken) cd/dvd player. You'll find a lot of interesting parts (e.g. the lens), but in this tutorial we need just one of the motors (usually are 2, and the damage is somewhere else, so they works). Take it out.

NOTE: every drive is different "inside", so it's a bit useless show you where is located. But you can see the picture to know what you are looking for.

Step 2: Making of the Blades

Take the empty package and get out the transparent cd.
Mark 8 identical cloves on the "cd", then cut them with a cutter.

Step 3: Mount the Blades

Mark the cork where you'll put the blades.
Make a small hole in the bottom. Cut off 1/3 in height and hack enough space for the blades.
Insert the blades (4 or 8) and secure them with super-glue. Let it dry :)

Step 4: Prepare the Usb Cable

Take the usb cable and cut it to the desired lenght, then peel it out leaving only the RED and the BLACK wires (isolate the other 2).

Step 5: Insert the Wires Into the Sheath

cut 3 iron wires as long as the cable
tie the wires (3 irons +2 from the usb) to a longer iron wire threaded in the sheath.
Pull the longer iron wire from the other side of the sheath, in order to make slip inside all the wires.

Step 6: Fix the Motor

Fix the motor to the cable and solder the usb wires. Isolate all with tape.

Step 7: Fix the Cork to the Motor

Glue the motor to the cork and let it dry.

Step 8: Test It..!

Test it... IT WORKS!

you can watch a video clip showing this cool Usb Fan here:

NOTE: thank to the iron wires, you can model the cable to any shape ;)

THANK YOU!

Be the First to Share

Recommendations

Rubik's Cube Solver by aaedmusa in Gadgets

31 4.5K

Laser-Cut Infinity Dodecahedron (Fusion 360) by thomasj152 in LEDs

168 14K

Pingo, the Secret Color Clock by Illusionmanager by illusionmanager in Clocks

1 33 3.3K

A Pocket Sundial From a Broken Pocket Watch! by JGJMatt in Metalworking

80 8.0K

Big and Small Contest
Game Design: Student Design Challenge
Make It Bridge

45 Comments

rrubera

11 years ago on Introduction

Hey!
This is a really a nice fan and really want to make one! But the thing is when i dismantled the CD ROM (got it from my old Pentium 3 PC) i couldn't find the motor (similar to the image shown here). I removed everything I COULD. Below are 2 photos of both side of my CD ROM. Hope someone can help me with finding the motor....

agis68

9 years ago on Introduction

cheap and easy. Cool too!!!

Minifig666

13 years ago on Introduction

Cool. I have an idea to combine a USB fan into a laptop stand to cool the RAM 'cos mine doesn't have a fan and it keeps overheating and shutting it off.

divudi2

12 years ago on Step 8

nice fan,
but add some more guide on fan blade making and shaping ..

riverreaper

12 years ago on Introduction

my laptop pooped so i had the swisscooling table laying around , after looking at it for months our heatwave hit i took the swisscooling table apart lined both fans up sameblowing direction taped them together then taped it to the back of desktop computer about half an inch way from its fan an usen a toothpick atached at the bace itsabout inch an 1/2 away , seening it alread had usb plug with on off switch it works well at adding cooling to the desktop durrning our heat wave.

kbishop

13 years ago on Introduction

Cool t-shirt, mate!

ellogan

14 years ago on Introduction

Ok, but, what if i want to do it bigger? can i give power trough 2 usb conections? how can i measure the energy it is using? thanks!