Zip-Tie Techniques...Now Used For a HD Mount.
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Zip-Tie Techniques...Now Used For a HD Mount.
Here's another way to mount fans, using zip-ties and automotive vacuum hose. You can get each in a variety of sizes, but here I'm using 3" zip-ties. The idea is to provide a soft rubber mount, which is adjustable to fit different hole spacing. I'm showing the method used to mount a 60mm fan on a pin-fin heatsink. But you can use this in many ways.....like as a case fan mount. You would push the hose against a hole in the case, and run a screw into the hose from the outside, providing a soft, flexable mount.
Use your imagination......this could be use as a hard drive mount. That vacuum hose won't break, and can with-stand high heat. You simply pull the zip-tie into the hose....till the large end is right at the end of the hose. Easy...
Use your imagination......this could be use as a hard drive mount. That vacuum hose won't break, and can with-stand high heat. You simply pull the zip-tie into the hose....till the large end is right at the end of the hose. Easy...
Last edited by Bluefront on Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:04 am, edited 3 times in total.
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I'm not sure what part you don't understand.....You have a piece of vacuum hose with a zip-tie pulled into it, the end sticking out. This is attached to the fan by the use of a second zip-tie pushed down on the first. There are four of these attached to the fan corners.
To attach this to a pin-fin heatsink you push the hoses down on the pin-fin....they are held firmly by friction. Here's another.....an 80 mm fan attached to a Swift-tech heatsink. Four short pieces of hose, and eight zip-ties.
To attach this to a pin-fin heatsink you push the hoses down on the pin-fin....they are held firmly by friction. Here's another.....an 80 mm fan attached to a Swift-tech heatsink. Four short pieces of hose, and eight zip-ties.
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Here's another example of this technique.....mounting a case fan close to a heatsink, with four rubber hoses, eight zip-ties, and the original four fan screws. The screws screw into the ends of the hose, holding the assembly firmly, but soft-mounted with no vibrations.
To duct this setup, I would cut out a rectangle of sticky-back foam or felt. Then wrap it around the four rubber posts. Easy way to get a fan close to a heatsink, without any vibration transfer possible.
To duct this setup, I would cut out a rectangle of sticky-back foam or felt. Then wrap it around the four rubber posts. Easy way to get a fan close to a heatsink, without any vibration transfer possible.
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That last photo is an old case not in use......and yeah it would need a duct and the grill cut open. I've been making ducts of soft materials, like a piece of thin aluminum flashing with sticky felt on both sides. It's bendable and will hold a shape. Some velcro would hold it tight to the fan.
Something like this
Something like this
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Heh.....these little Zip-ties and hoses are free to me. I open a drawer and there they are.
Seriously.....many advantages here. I don't have to wait for an order to arrive. If I change something I just make a new mount. These things can be adjusted for hole spacing, And I can adjust the distance from the fan to a heatsink easily by shortening the hose. Also they don't break......unlike rubber band suspension or mounting.
Effective, easy to deal with, cheap. Can't beat it. I'll post pictures of a hard drive mounted with a variation of this technique. My current project is coming along.......
One-fan for the whole thing, DC/DC converter for the PSU, external 12V power supply, SATA laptop drive, Ninja cooler on a P4, cheap $30 case with air filtration, MSI board. It'll be different and quiet.
Seriously.....many advantages here. I don't have to wait for an order to arrive. If I change something I just make a new mount. These things can be adjusted for hole spacing, And I can adjust the distance from the fan to a heatsink easily by shortening the hose. Also they don't break......unlike rubber band suspension or mounting.
Effective, easy to deal with, cheap. Can't beat it. I'll post pictures of a hard drive mounted with a variation of this technique. My current project is coming along.......
One-fan for the whole thing, DC/DC converter for the PSU, external 12V power supply, SATA laptop drive, Ninja cooler on a P4, cheap $30 case with air filtration, MSI board. It'll be different and quiet.
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Here's another use for zip-ties and vacuum hoses...a soft, suspended hard drive mount. The technique is similar to the other mounts in this thread. I took a piece of vacuum hose and carefully split it down the center. The cut is exactly as wide as the laptop drive. using the split, I pushed/pulled two zip-ties in the hose. Then I inserted the drive and attached zip-ties at the edge of the split (to prevent the split from getting bigger).
This setup can be suspended in a 3.5", a 5 1/4" bay, or somewhere else...like the PSU opening as in the photos. Once attached, the drive does not move around, and the computer can be moved safely.
This setup can be suspended in a 3.5", a 5 1/4" bay, or somewhere else...like the PSU opening as in the photos. Once attached, the drive does not move around, and the computer can be moved safely.
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Yeah it's a neat mount technique. That vacuum hose is soft, flexable, but doesn't really stretch much. If you mount the drive in a metal bay, there would not be any sagging at all, if you measured the hose length carefully. The rear mount on the picture is made on a plastic duct.....so there is some slight sag visible. But it doesn't have to sag at all.
I've been using that mount for serveral weeks now......working perfect. Absolutely no vibration transferred into the case. I'll probably mount two drives in that opening when I get another......
I've been using that mount for serveral weeks now......working perfect. Absolutely no vibration transferred into the case. I'll probably mount two drives in that opening when I get another......
I'm still suspending drives with elastic cord (the stuff used in clothes). How does this compare? Do you think it would be strong enough to suspend a 3.5" drive safely? I'm going to have to go to Home Depot and buy some vacuum hose and try it out
EDIT: Actually, do they carry this stuff McMaster? I imagine it might be cheaper online.
EDIT: Actually, do they carry this stuff McMaster? I imagine it might be cheaper online.
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Zip-Ties and vacuum hoses both come in many sizes. I've never seen weight/strength ratings for the hose.....but they probably exist. For a 3.5" drive you might want to use the next larger hose (only slightly bigger). Zip-Ties do come with weight ratings.
At Home Depot that 3" Zip-Tie is rated for 15lbs. There is also a small Zip-Tie with a "military spec"......that one is rated for 75lbs. I seriously doubt you'll ever break one in a computer application. The larger sized Zip-Ties could pull a car.
The only thing to be aware of is to use the same type/brand Zip-Tie to attach together. If you mix types, they might not hold well. I'd buy the vacuum hoses at an auto parts store. It comes in bulk....so just get a few feet of each small size,
Pulling a Zip-Tie into a vacuum hose requires two hands....you hold one end of the hose with one hand, pull the Zip-tie into the hose with a pliers on the end of the Zip sticking out. Not too hard......
There are countless uses for these things.....experimentation will no doubt find many more than what I've shown here.
Here's a 120mm Yate Loon mounted within 1/8" of a Ninga using vacuum hoses and zip-ties. I wrapped plastic tape around the four hoses to construct a short enclosed duct to the case.
At Home Depot that 3" Zip-Tie is rated for 15lbs. There is also a small Zip-Tie with a "military spec"......that one is rated for 75lbs. I seriously doubt you'll ever break one in a computer application. The larger sized Zip-Ties could pull a car.
The only thing to be aware of is to use the same type/brand Zip-Tie to attach together. If you mix types, they might not hold well. I'd buy the vacuum hoses at an auto parts store. It comes in bulk....so just get a few feet of each small size,
Pulling a Zip-Tie into a vacuum hose requires two hands....you hold one end of the hose with one hand, pull the Zip-tie into the hose with a pliers on the end of the Zip sticking out. Not too hard......
There are countless uses for these things.....experimentation will no doubt find many more than what I've shown here.
Here's a 120mm Yate Loon mounted within 1/8" of a Ninga using vacuum hoses and zip-ties. I wrapped plastic tape around the four hoses to construct a short enclosed duct to the case.
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Probably.....but with the cut, the total profile of the mount remains thin, allowing more airflow to reach the drive itself. I've never suspended a 3.5" drive due to the heat problem. IMHO....heatsinks are manditory on 3.5" drives. Without heatsinks, you need more airflow to keep these larger drives acceptably cool for me. Of course you could combine heatsinks with vacuum hose suspension.
Laptop drives are easier to keep cool.....definitely easier to suspend.
Example....that Samsung SATA laptop drive shown in these last photos, never goes over 28-30C, even though there's no fan directly on it. It simply is suspended in the main intake opening. One Yate-Loon 120mm exhaust fan @670rpm cools the drive, and the CPU (P4-2.6) easily.
Laptop drives are easier to keep cool.....definitely easier to suspend.
Example....that Samsung SATA laptop drive shown in these last photos, never goes over 28-30C, even though there's no fan directly on it. It simply is suspended in the main intake opening. One Yate-Loon 120mm exhaust fan @670rpm cools the drive, and the CPU (P4-2.6) easily.
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Yeah....that's it. The second picture in this thread shows a close-up of the bulge. This attachment has no tendency to loosen with vibration, unlike a nut/bolt.
You may have to try a few different brands/sizes to find a zip-tie/hose combo that works well. If the "head" of the zip-tie is too large, it won't pull into the hose. But once in there, It won't come out without pulling hard. (heh)
You may have to try a few different brands/sizes to find a zip-tie/hose combo that works well. If the "head" of the zip-tie is too large, it won't pull into the hose. But once in there, It won't come out without pulling hard. (heh)