Spool Holder

[last updated: 2019-01-15]
go to: 3d printing home page
-----

This is a model from (link to:) Thingiverse - 2479238
"Mega Anti-Tangle Spool Holder"

Thingiverse picture

Quantities you need to print:

1x "sh base p1 v1"
2x "sh base p2 v1"
2x "sh base p3-left v1"
2x "sh base p3-right v1"
2x "sh arm left w-m3 v1"
2x "sh arm right w-m3 v1"

2x "sh arm cross beam top v1"
2x "sh arm cross beam bottom v1"
4x "sh roller male v1"
4x "sh roller female v1"

------------------------------------------

Notes/Comments:

Doesn't hold together securely: There's bunches of comments on Thingiverse about the assembly not holding together very securely, ie. falling apart when moved or bumped.

Glued the roller halves together.
Added screws to attach round cross beam support bars to right and left arms
(I used pan head #4 sheet metal screws, which required a counter-bore into the base-p3 to clear the heads)
Added "spool-holder clips", Thingiverse 3264676
Cleaned bearings (see below) so they spin freely
(will soon) Add screws to attach base_b1 to base_b2

Peg screw option: Apparently the screw option mentioned in the original Thingiverse design does not hold anything, ie. does not screw anything together, but merely adds strength to the pin on the arms that inserts into the bearing. This apparently is a weak point subject to breakage, and the screw strengthens it.
Indeed my experience is you should consider this a necessity, as while I was assembling it, it came apart and parts fell on the floor, and two pegs broke in the process.
Bearings spinning freely: The bearings used in the spool holder are "standard" 608 bearings, ubiquitous as skate board bearings. I have some that I got with the Prusa MMU kit, plus I ordered a bunch more from Zoro. None of them spin freely. Various sources explain that's because they are pre-lubricated and the grease makes them slightly sticky, though of course more resistant to wear under high speed or heavy loads. However since neither of those conditions applies here, I'm going to clean them to make them spin more freely.

In this I am well-informed by (link to:) this Instructable.
However, choice of solvent was problematic. Used acetone initially, and while it seemed to sort of work, it was very slow. Also tried regular paint thinner, which may have worked slightly better, but still not very completely. Had to do a lot of manual clean and wipe.
FWIW the grease on my bearings is blue.

.

.

.

eof

Main Menu