Customizable Printable Spool for Filaments

thingiverse

This design can be easily printed on small printers because it's a customizable filament spool. It is based on a great design by MakeALot (#7980). If you're interested in variable width, see thing #102270 by ksaathoff. This design uses a similar geometry to the original but offers several custom options and additional features. Note that this design does not work properly in Makerbot's Customizer on Thingiverse (why?). Instead, use the integrated customizer in OpenSCAD. ### Customizer: Download "spool.scad" and "spool.json" from "Thing Files". Copy them into the same folder as your OpenSCAD file. Get the newest version of OpenSCAD here: http://www.openscad.org/downloads.html. Make sure you have at least version 2018.x. ### Steps to Use Customizer: 1. Launch spool.scad in OpenSCAD and activate Customizer. 2. Check "customizer" under Edit → Preferences → Features (scroll down). 3. Uncheck "Hide Customizer" under View. 4. When finished, start rendering (F6) and export as .stl file (File→Export→Export as STL). Note: parameters are not fool-proof, so choose reasonable values! ### Parameter Sets: OpenSCAD's Customizer has a feature that manages parameter sets. Just add a new preset by pressing "+" on the top panel, and enter a name. A file "spool.json" will be created (or extended) which contains all these presets. ### Instructions: 1. Print 1 x core. 2. Print 16 x arm (or 2 x setOfArms). 3. Print 16 x edge (or 2 x setOfEdges). If parameter "gap" is properly chosen, no glue is required. However, if this is overdone the edges will be under stress and eventually bend. I recommend printing the core first, then one arm and one edge, and if they fit well print the rest or adapt the gap parameter for arms and edges.