Improved Cooling Solution for Klipper Printer Running Armbian on N1 Host

Printer Klipper, the host computer originally used N1 (expanded to 64GB) flashed with Armbian, may intermittently encounter errors during the printing process due to issues with the Armbian system. As for the host computers available in the market, from the Z8350 mini PC to the S905X3 foreign trade box, the cooling design of these set-top boxes is poor. So, it's possible to modify them together.

The red part is the 3D-printed casing, just one shell. The top cover uses a 100*100mm heat-dissipating aluminum plate, which serves a dual purpose. The four corners are fixed with four screws tightened by compression. To facilitate installation and reduce costs, there is no need to drill holes in the aluminum plate; it is enough to press it against the edge of the screw cap.

The interior is as follows:

A solid copper pillar with a diameter of 18mm and a height of 10mm is used as a thermal conductor intermediary. The part where the copper pillar contacts the System on a Package (SOP) and the aluminum plate is applied with thermal grease. After the aluminum plate is pressed on, there is an interference fit (approximately 0.3-0.5mm interference), ensuring the tight compression of the copper block. If there are concerns about the movement of the copper block, thermal conductive silicone gel can be applied around the copper block.

This is how it looks when installed:

Adjust the positioning of the motherboard's IO interface holes with a caliper for accurate measurement, and finally adjust them to a satisfactory state.

Injection-molded copper nuts are used for the bottom screw holes, and they can be heated and pressed in with a soldering iron, eliminating the need for multiple disassemblies.

Finally, let's discuss the most important aspect: heat dissipation performance. At room temperature of 27℃, the X96max+ (S905X3) reaches 42℃ in standby mode and 51℃ after watching high-definition television for ten minutes. It never exceeds 60℃. The aluminum plate on the surface is still quite hot to the touch, indicating that the S905X3 does generate considerable heat, but it also demonstrates that the heat is effectively being transferred.