Inline exhaust fan

I’m in very unfamiliar territory here, but I just received my unit, along with compact filter. I’m a little overly cautious and want to add extra filtration. Would this work in that situation? If so, how would I attach this fan between the glowforge and the filter?

1 Like

It won’t aid in filtration if anything your filter could clog faster, but it would aid in extraction. If you put it at the end of the hose rather than the beginning, it will pull the air from the machine and push it outside where the wind will disperse it.

That’s my opinion, I chose to go the inline fan route instead of the filter.

1 Like

I would not add a fan between the machine and a GF-provided filter.

The controlled airflow thru them is what makes them effective. Forcing it thru at a higher rate would likely cause them to be less effective.

It’s probably why the internal fan is disabled when the filter is in use.

5 Likes

Thank you.

1 Like

Hello, Newbie here…lol…Is there pics of how the installations goes? I am going to order one asap…what do I need beside the Vivosun 4 inch…? Cheers

1 Like

Thank you!!..I originally just had coroplast, but winter is here, going to have to do plywood. Did you use a dryer vent to keep the weather from coming thru?

Yes, the side you can’t see has the little shutters on them. When the time comes (before you know it) to clean the fan, be sure and clean them as well.

2 Likes

Good to know…many thanks again! Cheers…

2 Likes

LMAO! I had ordered a filter (before we knew anything about the filter that ended up being delivered) so my venting was out a small basement window. Since it was only temporary I used some 2" pink foam insulation board.

That was something like 4 years ago :slight_smile:

I did eventually get the filter but I’ve never installed it or even turned it on. The venting works fine and the filter isn’t the GF low-unit that was initially advertised so it’s relegated to its box and awaits use for some indoor Makerfaire or something.

But yeah, I should put in a piece of plywood.

One of these days.

:wink:

5 Likes

Can someone help me!! I just want to make sure that the side that has the red arrow sticker should be facing out towards the vent. I took it apart and can’t remember now.

Thank you!

Just turn on the fan and see which direction the airflow is. The end blowing out is the end that goes to the vent.

5 Likes

That’s the trick I learned the hard way.:grin:

3 Likes

I too ordered the filter way in advance of understanding the nature of the beast. Managed to sell the unopened box. Initially vented under the front of the garage door because it was easy. It was one of those, just gonna try this sucker out sort of things that lasted over a year. Eventually built a proper adaptor to allow me to vent out of an existing garage vent.

3 Likes

I just installed an inline fan! Terrabloom 4" from amazon.com. I have a very short vent hose to the outside, so it does a fine job. OMG, now I can actually hear myself think while the Forge is running. I had no idea the machine itself made so many funny little noises til now. I did take out the factory fan–absolutely clogged with stuck on gunk, cleaned it and put it away in case I need to put it back in someday. I even got the left side glass top off after reading some posts on how to do it, so it was EASY.

7 Likes

i kept wondering why I had waited so long.

1 Like

Is it best to have the internal fan on or off when venting outside? I had the GF filter installed and didn’t change the setting for the vent when I swapped over. I’m going to switch it and see what happens.

It’s best to have the internal fan off if you have an external exhaust fan installed - to do so the filter switch in the GFUI is set to On.

You can vent outside with the fan that came with the :glowforge: , so it would be bad to turn it off if that were your only fan!

1 Like

Off. You will be amazed at how quite it is too with just the external fan.

Internal fan off.

My 6" Vivosun is virtually silent, I sometimes forget to turn it off and find it’s been running for days when I next go to use the machine!

I also use it to draw cool air thru the house at night in fall and spring when conditions are right, by opening the lid, and a door on the opposite side of the house.

1 Like