ID-Cooling AM-120-K: Bet on an Elegant Geometry

It has exactly the elements that make an inexpensive fan aerodynamically efficient and acoustically unobtrusive. Or rather, not too obtrusive—at least at lower, non‑high speeds. At higher speeds, every fan is “noisy,” but making a low‑cost fan that can still be described as pleasant to the ear is already something of a feat. We can, however, state that ID‑Cooling has achieved this with the AM‑120‑K model.

We have already tested one ID‑Cooling fan (AT‑120‑K). The AM‑120‑K was approached a bit differently in terms of design. There are nine blades here as well. Even the curvature of the leading edges is similar. But on the AM‑120‑K, the blades are slightly longer.

The blades are longer because the hub is smaller. The stated mean time between failures is similar—50,000–100,000 hours depending on various factors such as ambient operating temperature. Different, hydrodynamic bearings are used (instead of ball bearings). Longer blades also imply potentially higher vibrations. To suppress them, there is a ring at the blade tips. It is part of the impeller.

The impeller ring is clearly visible even from the rear‑side detail. Reinforcing the blades at the critical point (near the tips) is quite popular on inexpensive models made from lower-cost (and more flexible) materials.

Small serrations on the trailing edges of the blades near the hub can also be considered a form of micro‑optimization. They likely serve mainly as a psychoacoustic element. How well everything works together will be revealed by detailed measurements.

Please note: The article continues in the following chapters.