Creativity Direct Drive Duct upgrade

Ordered a creativity direct drive hot end unit and gantry all in one from Aliexpress as an upgrade for one of my Voxelab Aquilas.

Specifically, I got the one with the titan dual gear extruder, 5015 blower and was painted red.

Anyways, I wasn't overly happy with the part cooling duct (understatement…), and set about trying to upgrade the part cooling. None of the existing STLs matched what I was after nor would they fit relative to the hot-end on the shroud.

I took some inspiration from the attachment design of the original duct, some of the halo/ring style ducts many have designed for the Anet A8 and Tronxy's by others, and so had a go at designing my own from scratch. One of the reasons I stuck with the original attachment design is that I found you could undo the upper screw and swing the entire duct out of the way, making heater block changers and mods far easier.

On reflection, it is probably the same shroud as an Ender 3 so could have used one of those, but couldn't say as I don't have an Ender 3!

I designed two versions, one for a 5015 and another for a 5020. Photos for overhangs between earlier and later test versions are included that demonstrate their ability to handle overhangs at 80 degrees on a mini-test. Tests were using Sunlu PLA at 205 degrees C.

Printed trial prototypes in PLA, and they worked fine for lower-temp materials for a long while - BUT they will certainly warp given time and with higher temps.

Final versions were printed in generic PETG at 25% infill with 5 walls to try and keep weight down - though at this size it probably wouldn't matter with a much higher infill. If you can, print in ABS.

You may need longer M3 screws than the original which came with it, and depending on whether you intend to use a 5020 or 5015. From my tests the 5015 was superior. You could also heat insert points, but the screws should thread on their own fine.

It was designed to be printed as it would be installed and without supports.

I've included the Fusion 360 file as well for you to remix till your heart is content.

Ferz out,