Vent Flow Redirection Cover
Designed and 3D-printed a custom vent cover with angled airflow channels and a sliding panel to redirect or completely block unwanted airflow.
- SolidWorks
- CAD
- 3D Printing
- Fabrication
Introduction
I designed and 3D-printed a custom vent cover to improve the comfort of my room without negatively affecting my roommates. Cold air from the existing vent could make the room frigid, so I wanted a solution that would let me redirect the airflow away from where I was sitting or block it completely.
Design and Engineering
There are two features I focused on:
- Angled airflow channels: The holes are angled to redirect air away from my position rather than allowing it to blow directly into the room. This is for when the air isn’t quite cold but if concentrated in one area would still bother me.
- Sliding cover mechanism: Rails along the top and bottom are for a separate, non perforated cover to slide into place, providing a way to block the airflow for extreme cases.
I measured the existing vent using calipers and used those measurements to develop the part in SolidWorks. The geometry was designed around the vent’s dimensions and the intended fit of the sliding cover. After completing the CAD model, I manufactured the part using FDM 3D printing on a QIDI Q2 printer.
What I used:
- CAD: SolidWorks
- Measurement: Digital calipers
- Printer: QIDI Q2