3D Printed Laptop Cooling: DIY Fix & Comfort Tips

What counts as “essential” accessories for laptops varies from person to person, but the ideal ones are usually those that enhance your workflow. While different people use laptops for various purposes, better ergonomics and improved cooling are features that many laptop users want.

The quickest way to fix these issues is usually to buy a laptop stand, but the biggest caveat is that it’s a separate accessory, and sometimes, it isn’t even easy to carry in your bag, making it less portable. You can get rid of all these limitations if you have a 3D printer and use it smartly to print your own laptop accessoryjust as DIYer @qewer33_946417 did.

This 3D-printed laptop riser can improve cooling and ergonomics

It’s super portable, too

3D printing a laptop riser isn’t something we’re hearing for the first time, but @qewer33_946417’s solution is a unique one in the sense that it becomes part of the laptop. So, when you carry your laptop outside, such a laptop riser eliminates the need to remember to bring anything else separately for improved ergonomics and cooling.

The fact that the laptop riser gets attached to the laptop isn’t the only unique thing about it. It also has a foldable form factor, so you get two different height options: it raises the laptop about one centimeter when folded and almost three centimeters when unfolded.

Some models have built-in rubber feet on the underside, but they raise the laptop only by a few millimeters. While they might improve the ergonomics and grip, they can’t significantly improve your cooling. They don’t give you different height options, either. So, if you have a pair on your laptop, this 3D-printed foldable riser can be useful to you as well.

After 3D-printing a pair of risers, you’ll need to attach both to the underside of your laptop using double-sided tape. To improve the grip, you can attach a rubber pad to the base part of the riser using super glue. If you already have a pair on your laptop, you can peel them off and attach them to the base.

The DIYer shared the STL files on Printablesand you can download them and modify the design according to your needs. Regardless of the design you choose, you’ll need the following hardware for one foot, as recommended by the creator:

• 1x 30mm M3 bolt

• 1x M3 lock nut (or a normal nut but a lock nut is better)

• 2x small (less than 8mm diameter and less than 1mm thickness) brass washer (optional, print the no washer version of the hinge if you aren’t going to use them)

• 2x rubber feet (you can take of the current ones from your laptop or just cut from a piece of stiff rubber, attach to the base part with super glue)

The one that the DIYer created has a hexagonal infill pattern. You can opt for this option, as it’ll save you some material cost and add strength. If that’s what you want, the DIYer recommends applying the following settings while printing the base:

• Infill Percentage: 15%

• Infill Pattern: Hexagon

• Top layers: 0

• Bottom layers: 4

• Create a cube modifier, apply 100% infill to it and set it where you are going to glue the rubber feet (ideally in the middle part of the base)

If you 3D-print the riser as is, both Windows and Mac laptops are compatible. So, no matter what laptop you get in the future, a laptop riser is one of those things you won’t have to buy again if you have a 3D printer.