This time I went for simple and compact. No speed control, just 2 small fans working with 4 AAA batteries.
These are the smallest fans I could find. They're 20mm and as you can see, they fit the VForce mask just right.
...
You could even mount them inside the mask if you wanted...
However, one of the big problems with mounting a fan right on top of the mask like that is that the turbulence from the air creates a lot more noise. It's also not that efficient, since only a small portion of the actual fan area is being utilized.
So, in order to eliminate the noise from air turbulence and to maximize the efficiency of the fans, I needed to raise the fans above the mask surface.
I broke out the Dremel, looked around for some scrap plastic and made up a couple of "spacers"...
Then, I stuck them to the fans using double sided tape by 3M. The same kind of double sided tape that's used to stick trim on a car. I highly recommend having a roll around, you'll find a lot of uses for it.
As you can see, there is a good amount of space now under the fans...
Everything's starting to come together...
I used the same method of securing the fans to the mask that VForce uses to secure the visor to the mask. Quite a clever method I must say...
Now, just secure the battery holder with a couple of zip ties...
(It doesn't really stick out much at all)
Solder in a switch, zip ties, heat shrink yadda yadda...
Oh yeah...I also closed up the hole at the back of the fans with some more scrap plastic to make a duct, so the only air going through the fans were being drawn through the mask. If you don't do this, then a lot of the air that goes through the fan will be drawn from *around* the fan.
This time I used a microwave macaroni and cheese tray for the thin scrap plastic lol...
And there ya' have it...
15/2/2009, 12:04 am
