When heat buildup is a problem for electronics and other machinery — from consumer PCs to medical devices and more — a small cooling fan is the tried and true solution. Fans often come with a box-shaped frame enclosure that adds volume and weight, but they can also take the form of frameless devices that do away with this exterior housing.

Frameless fans are smaller and lighter than their framed counterparts and can be mounted in a wide range of configurations. These devices work in the same manner as a framed PC-style fan from an electronics standpoint. They require power and ground and may also employ pulse-width modulation (PWM) for speed control. A tachometer output can also be implemented to monitor the fan speed.

Frameless fan applications

Without a bulky frame to define the external fan boundaries, device manufacturers have significantly more freedom to design their cooling systems for optimal space usage and efficiency. These benefits can be especially helpful for demanding medical and military applications, where compact designs with extreme performance and reliability are often required.

Frameless fans can also work very well in the food and beverage industries, allowing for a compact and cost-effective way to provide airflow for defrosting, ventilation and cooling operations. A wide range of other applications are also appropriate, including laptops, mobile devices and circuit boards, potentially saving space and power — which is always seen as a premium. Notably, frameless fans can be mounted directly to a circuit board, potentially saving bill-of-materials (BOM) and assembly costs.

Pelonis: Innovations in frameless fans

Figure 2. Without a bulky frame to define the external fan boundaries, manufacturers have more freedom to design a cooling system for optimal space usage and efficiency. Source: Pelonis Technologies

Just as the implementation of frameless fans provides a broad array of customization options, the fans themselves are available in a wide range of sizes and configurations. Fan manufacturer Pelonis Technologies features a broad catalog of off-the-shelf frameless fans, available in sizes from 36 mm to 145 mm, voltages from 5 V DC to 24 V DC, and with different fan blade and speed configurations.

Pelonis’ catalog options, however, are just the beginning. Their fans can be customized with PWM and tachometer capabilities, along with environmental protection against salt fog, moisture (up to a submersible IP-67 rating) and dust. They can also implement their proprietary dual ball bearing axle design in order to prolong the fan’s lifespan and increase reliability. Roughly half of Pelonis’ orders are customized to meet user specifications, and they can provide custom solutions in quantities from a handful to hundreds of thousands, depending on the required scale.

Benefits of frameless fans

Frameless fans from Pelonis Technologies offer several essential benefits, including flexible design, optimal space efficiency and cost-effective pricing. Pelonis fans can be specified to work from -35° C to 90° C and to generate minimal noise, making them a great choice for a wide range of environments and applications.

Browse the full catalog of Pelonis frameless fans or get in touch today to see how they can provide a solution for any future compact cooling fan challenge.