Fan Guards

Materials and Forming Processes Used

Fan guards can have two-dimensional or three-dimensional geometries developed for them. Metal wire fan guards are made by a process that includes cutting, bending, welding, and surface preparation. Fabrication techniques for metal fan guards include automated wire mesh welding and CNC wire coil shaping. Stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and low-carbon steel are all acceptable materials for metal wire.

Injection molding is a commonly used method for producing plastic fan guards from nylon, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). UL94V-0 and other fire resistance standards are frequently found on plastic fan shields.

Fan Guard Wire Protective Treatments

Different types of stainless steel or brilliant basic steel metal wire are commonly resistance or arc welded into various forms, from circular to rectangular, to specific configurations and sizes, depending on their intended application, to create fan guards. After that, protective coatings like chrome plating, zinc plating, powder coating, and UV-resistant polyester or urethane finishes can be applied to the finished product. Metal fan guards are frequently found with coatings and surface treatments that protect against corrosion. These consist of the following:

• Polished zinc coating or bright nickel chrome plating
• Chromate treatment with gold
• Anodizing
• Heat therapy
• Epoxy powder coating annealing
• Coating with a polymer powder
• Plastic (PVC, PE) dipping

Plastic fan guards, as mentioned above, receive their protection from the choice of plastic material used to meet a specific application.

Design and Customization of Fan Guards

Fan guards often feature an outside ring, concentric ribs, a mounting hole in the center, and some brackets or fasteners around the outside to attach to the fan or motor. They can have bespoke shapes and configurations and be flat, domed, with flat or bowed sides. Several different fan guard configurations are available including:

• Circular rectangle-shaped dome
• Taper-sided
• Wire spiral

Special designs are available by contacting fan guard manufacturers. Almost any size or shape of fan guard may be made to order by the majority of manufacturers, who also carry a variety of combinations and sizes.

Safety requires the use of fan guards. They can be built of various plastic, steel, or other metals and come in various sizes and layouts. Metal wire fan guards can also be coated, polished, and anodized in various ways, depending on the application and for aesthetic reasons. For instance, a waterproof coating or other finish on the metal exterior or outdoor fan guards can prevent rust, oxidation, and material degradation from exposure to the environment over time.

These fan accessories can also be powder coated or plated to prevent rust and damage. Urethane or polyester can offer UV protection and stop material deterioration for fans that are used outdoors. Cosmetic finishes might be black, nickel chrome, or another color. In commercial and industrial environments, fan guards are frequently required to ensure adherence to safety requirements, such as those imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Fan-Guarding Functions

1. Make use of time: keep dust out of the fan, which will shorten its lifespan.
2. As a safety precaution to avoid having the fan touch your fingertips. Think about the effects of a 600-rpm fan blade contacting your fingers.
3. Prevent items from entering; shield the fan from being struck by large objects and guard against sucking in enormous but insignificant masses
4. Control the air duct: Because the fan is self-cooling, it will blow the wind cover to the end along the space between it and a heat sink, removing heat from the heat sink. Without a guard, the fan's wind has no direction and does a terrible job of dissipating heat.

Applications

Fan guards can be utilized for fans in a variety of situations, such as:

• Electrical cooling fans cool electronic devices, such as computer case fans. Sizes in the 40, 60, 80, 92, 120, and 140mm range are typical.
• Industrial exhaust fans that remove air that may be contaminated with smoke, toxic gases, fumes, and other unfavorable elements from a structure or workspace.
• Heat exchangers, cooling towers, and process dryers are examples of large-scale industrial equipment that use process cooling fans.
• Pneumatic fans for material handling are used to transport granular materials, such as grains, powders, and pellets of plastic resin, between storage bins and production machinery.
• HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) fans that circulate air in structures and other enclosed spaces, such as plenum and duct fans.

Choosing the Right Fan Guard Supplier

To make sure you have the most beneficial outcome when purchasing fan guards from a fan guard supplier, it is important to compare at least 4 to 5 companies using our list of fan guard suppliers. Each fan guard supplier has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the supplier for more information or request a quote. Review each fan guard company website using our proprietary website previewer to get an idea of what each company specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple fan guard companies with the same form.