7 brilliant ways to use PC fans in your next 3D printing project

7 brilliant ways to use PC fans in your next 3D printing project Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek By  Tim Brookes Published May 30, 2026, 10:46 AM EDT Tim has been covering technology for almost 20 years, in that time spanning a broad range of topics from security to product reviews. He is especially focused on the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and consumer advice. Over the years Tim has written thousands of articles, reviews, and round-ups in addition to producing video content and original photography. A graduate of journalism, he found his footing as a freelancer with a laptop and loves how he is able to work from practically anywhere. Now a Senior Editor for iPhone, Mac, and Smart Home at How-To Geek , Tim still loves to write. He can also be found crafting round-ups and productivity posts for the Zapier blog . Earlier in his career Tim spent nearly a decade as a writer and eventually Apple section editor for MakeUseOf . Tim currently lives in Brisbane, Australia. Outside of work he loves to hike and work out, play video games, and spend quality time with his wonderful partner and two cats Inka and Roger. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Your 3D printer pairs well with all sorts of components and accessories, from IKEA pegboards to $5 microcontrollers. But one item you might not have considered is the humble PC fan. These pint-sized air movers aren’t just great for keeping your GPU temperatures down. Why PC fans? Small, versatile, and easy to control PC fans are small, cheap, and come in common sizes like 120mm, which makes them easy to integrate into projects. You might already have a few lying around. They range from the sort of pack-in fans you get with an inexpensive PC case, right through to near-silent offerings from be quiet!