Cheap & Lazy Filament Spindle

thingiverse

A basic filament spool, designed for MakerBot printing, boasts affordability and free spinning without needing a highly tuned MakerBot for printing. It was inspired by an even easier option on Thingiverse (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4641). Besides its primary use, the spool can also serve as a cheap tabletop revolving object, although its weight-bearing capacity is uncertain. Future additions include a bolt-on filament guide and central core to keep the filament neatly in place. Filename numbers indicate version management. On December 1, 2010, a Filament Guide Add-on Kit became available at (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4982). The estimated print time for this part is around 10 hours. To assemble the spool, bolt together five SupportSection7 components to form a ring, attach five SpokePrintAssembly spokes to the outer edge of the ring, and create another ring using BaseSection9 components. Optionally, smooth marble tracks by sanding, steel-wool, and brass polishing liquid for a polished finish. Place at least three marbles (more is better) onto the base ring and place the top ring over the marbles. Add weight and filament to complete the assembly. For those who want to add a filament guide, visit Thingiverse's Filament Guide Add-on Kit page (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4982).