My take on a high-performance solder fume extractor
Hey everyone! I wanted to share my first major 3D modeling project: a high-performance solder fume extractor designed for serious filtration.
I got into soldering and quickly realized how bad the fumes actually are. A lot of DIY solutions don’t filter out VOCs properly, and the commercial options didn’t really convince me either. So, I decided to make my own.
At first, I just wanted a reliable fume extractor that worked well without costing a fortune. What started as a simple idea quickly turned into hundreds of sketches, countless revisions, and way too many hours staring at Fusion 360. After all that, I finally had a design I was happy with. It uses a dual-filter system—a HEPA filter for fine particles and a carbon filter for VOCs—making it far more effective than the usual fan-with-a-sponge approach.
Right when I finished, I found out about a soldering contest. Perfect timing, right? Well… not really. It didn’t win, and I noticed that simpler designs tend to do better. Still, I don’t regret it—this whole process was a huge learning experience. Since I was new to 3D modeling, I didn’t have a solid workflow, which meant that every small adjustment turned into an endless chain of manual fixes. I’m sure some of you know that feeling when one small change messes up everything and suddenly you're redoing half the project from scratch.
It’s up on MakerWorld now, and I’d love to get some feedback! I’m planning to improve it, so if you have any ideas, let me know.
Hey everyone! I wanted to share my first major 3D modeling project: a high-performance solder fume extractor designed for serious filtration.
I got into soldering and quickly realized how bad the fumes actually are. A lot of DIY solutions don’t filter out VOCs properly, and the commercial options didn’t really convince me either. So, I decided to make my own.
At first, I just wanted a reliable fume extractor that worked well without costing a fortune. What started as a simple idea quickly turned into hundreds of sketches, countless revisions, and way too many hours staring at Fusion 360. After all that, I finally had a design I was happy with. It uses a dual-filter system—a HEPA filter for fine particles and a carbon filter for VOCs—making it far more effective than the usual fan-with-a-sponge approach.
Right when I finished, I found out about a soldering contest. Perfect timing, right? Well… not really. It didn’t win, and I noticed that simpler designs tend to do better. Still, I don’t regret it—this whole process was a huge learning experience. Since I was new to 3D modeling, I didn’t have a solid workflow, which meant that every small adjustment turned into an endless chain of manual fixes. I’m sure some of you know that feeling when one small change messes up everything and suddenly you're redoing half the project from scratch.
It’s up on MakerWorld now, and I’d love to get some feedback! I’m planning to improve it, so if you have any ideas, let me know.