Captive Bearing Spool Wheels

thingiverse

I encountered a problem with plastic spool wheels that didn't rotate as smoothly as I expected and made a grating noise when turning. It seemed like the extruder drive motor was straining too hard to move the filament, causing the line to become overly tight. To address this issue, I designed a modification for a smoother and quieter operation. Simply position it on the print bed according to the diagram provided, print with supports as they will be necessary for a successful assembly. Press the two parts together using a 12x24x6mm bearing in between them and let it click into place. If added security is desired, apply superglue to hold the halves firmly together but it shouldn't be necessary. Enjoy printing!