A Filament Spooler

grabcad

This 3D filament spooler is a heavily modified version of the original spooler found in Woern et al.'s RepRapable Recyclebot (2018). To accommodate an industrial extruder requiring faster speeds, I upgraded the motor to a high-speed unit capable of spinning at 500 rpm. The overall design remains remarkably similar to its predecessor, with several key modifications that improve its performance and functionality. To enhance the transmission system, I replaced the elastic band with an O-ring, which provides greater durability and reliability. Additionally, the main axle threaded rod was modified, along with the ball bearings it sits on, to ensure a smoother and more efficient operation. The pulleys were also upgraded by removing some screws for easier installation and increasing their diameter for improved performance. A notable change is the elimination of the horizontal beam used in the original design, which proved unnecessary as the assembly grew larger. Furthermore, I removed the need for heat inserts, streamlining the overall design and making it more efficient. The spooler remains easy to use, with the empty spool loaded by unscrewing one of the hubs and placing the new spool onto the threaded rod before tightening the hub back on. The spooler speed can also be controlled using the potentiometer on the PWM circuit. This project, like its predecessor, is intended to be open-sourced, allowing users to freely build, share, and modify it as they see fit.