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A 3D-PRINTED CRYOCOOLER HIT -70°C

A maker built a Gifford-McMahon cryocooler with a 3D-printed displacer piston and an Arduino, and it reached minus 84 Celsius before ice seized the piston.

by Hyperspace Pirate

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

WorkshopScience

Built withArduino

difficulty
●●●●●
time
several weekends
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a fascinating proof that a maker can reach very cold temperatures with a 3D-printed displacer piston, PVC pipe, a shop air compressor and an Arduino. Hyperspace Pirate built two prototypes: the 1-inch version reached -84°C, the larger 1.5-inch version cooled faster but only reached -52°C before ice seized it. It is not a weekend build, and neither the video description nor the Arduino Blog post links build files, so you would be designing the mechanical system, the actuation and the timing logic yourself from the video and the description. If you understand thermodynamics and want to learn by building a cryocooler, this is an inspiring starting point. If you want step-by-step instructions, this is not the project.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —Sources: Hyperspace Pirate's build video on YouTube and the Arduino Blog post about it.
  • —Neither the video description nor the Arduino Blog post links STL files, code or a bill of materials.
  • —The design is a Gifford-McMahon cryocooler: a PVC cylinder with a 3D-printed displacer piston, run open-loop on compressed air and controlled by an Arduino UNO Rev3.
  • —The regenerator inside the displacer is lead bird shot; a stainless steel bead version cooled more slowly.
  • —Two prototypes: the 1-inch PVC model reached -84°C (compressor at about 270 W average), the 1.5-inch model reached -52°C (about 630 W average).
  • —The original build used limit switches, later replaced with Hall effect sensors.

Parts to buy

11 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • Arduino UNO Rev3Find
  • Stepper motorFind
  • Hall effect sensorsFind
  • Air compressorFind
  • AftercoolerFind
  • Liquid trap and desiccant dryerFind
  • PVC pipeFind
  • Rubber O-ringsFind
  • Silicone greaseFind
  • Lead bird shotFind
  • Magnets and pneumatic fittingsFind

Can I build this?

Printthe displacer piston (the cylinder itself is PVC pipe); no STL files are linked
BuyArduino UNO Rev3, stepper motor, Hall effect sensors, air compressor, aftercooler, liquid trap and desiccant dryer, PVC pipe, rubber O-rings, silicone grease, lead bird shot, magnets and pneumatic fittings. No full parts list is linked.
Tools3D printer, access to an air compressor, tools for assembly and sealing
Skillsadvanced — thermodynamics knowledge, mechanical design, Arduino programming, and the ability to build a sealed pressure system from a concept description
Timeseveral weekends to design, print, assemble, and debug without existing files
Cost$$ — dominated by the air compressor, air drying and pneumatic fittings
SafetyCompressed air in a PVC cylinder: PVC is not rated for compressed gas and can shatter into sharp fragments, so keep pressure low, shield the cylinder and wear eye protection. Cold parts at -50 to -84°C can cause frostbite; let them warm up before touching. Lead shot is toxic: wear gloves and wash hands.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Building a Gifford-McMahon Cryocooler With 3d-Printed Parts17:17

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Gallery

blog.arduino.cc
blog.arduino.cc

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Watch Hyperspace Pirate's build video to understand the Gifford-McMahon design and how the hot and cold sides are separated (The video description lists the key materials and the results of both prototypes; the Arduino Blog post summarises the Arduino control side.)
  2. 2.Research Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers to understand the thermodynamic cycle and mechanical requirements(You will need to design the cylinder, displacer piston, seals and actuation yourself.)
  3. 3.Design or source a magnetic coupling system to move the piston without breaking the seal(According to the Arduino Blog, the original moves the piston inside with magnets on the outside.)
  4. 4.Write Arduino code to time the stepper motor rotation and valve timing(Hall effect sensors replaced the original limit switches.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • No STL files, code or parts list are linked from the video description or the Arduino Blog post, so expect to spend most of your time designing before you print anything.
  • The system runs on an external air compressor (the creator used a 1 kW unit), which is a separate purchase and adds cost and complexity.
  • Sealing the moving displacer piston against the cylinder wall is difficult; the creator used rubber O-rings and silicone grease.
  • Ice is the main limit: even with an aftercooler, a liquid trap and a desiccant canister, moisture froze inside and seized the piston. The creator says going colder needs a closed loop with helium.
  • The Arduino timing between the piston movement and the valve opening is critical and will require tuning.
  • The regenerator is lead bird shot. Lead is toxic, so handle it with gloves, wash your hands and never sand, melt or heat it.

Is this a true cryogenic cooler?

Not quite. The creator's best run reached -84°C (the Arduino Blog reported -70°C), which is very cold but well above true cryogenic temperatures. Moisture in the compressed air froze inside the cooler even after drying and seized the piston. The creator says the next step needs a closed helium loop.

Can I build this without build files?

Only if you are comfortable designing it yourself. The video description gives the key ingredients: a 1-inch PVC cylinder, a 3D-printed displacer piston sealed with rubber O-rings and silicone grease, a lead bird-shot regenerator and a shop air compressor with an aftercooler, liquid trap and desiccant dryer. No STL files or code are linked from the video description or the Arduino Blog post.

What does the Arduino do?

It controls a stepper motor that moves the piston in and out, timed to match the opening of the cylinder's valve. Hall effect sensors detect the ends of the stroke.

Why does this design work when a normal compressor heats up?

It separates the hot side from the cold side, so the expansion cooling accumulates instead of being canceled out by compression heat.

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The 1-inch prototype hit -84°C before ice seized the piston, using a 3D-printed displacer, PVC pipe and an Arduino. What would you use minus eighty degrees for first?

CompareeTEAM1d ago

We checked Hyperspace Pirate's build video and the Arduino Blog post. The best prototype reached -84°C (the Arduino Blog quotes -70°C) before moisture froze inside and seized the piston. Neither source links STL files, code or a parts list, so treat this as an inspiring working prototype to learn from rather than a project you can copy file by file.

Hyperspace Pirate

Hyperspace Pirate is a YouTube maker who published this build video on 6 June 2026, showing two DIY Gifford-McMahon cryocooler prototypes.

Star the project on GitHub

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