DittoPro Feed Arm

thingiverse

Running a 3D printing lab at a university, I have multiple printers close together, creating logistical challenges. The rolls of PLA filament stored behind the machine drive me crazy - it's such a hassle to constantly change the roll several times during each print job. Each time, I must turn the entire printer around just to see what I'm doing. This is especially frustrating when space between printers is limited, and there's a risk of accidentally pulling out the power cord or damaging the protruding SD card. To address this issue, I designed a spool holder that allows the rolls of PLA to ride on a platform next to the printer. This design has worked well for my Makerbot Replicator+ machines, which I've been using for over two years now. Eventually, I plan to create an updated version that will hold the entire roll above or beside the printer with a separate holder for the feeder pipe. I've already created a similar spool holder for my Makerbots, which can be found on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:629381. It has performed flawlessly for over a year now. To print this design, I paused mid-print and switched to black PLA filament to get the logo printed in black, then returned to white PLA. This was an unnecessary step, but it worked out well. I printed the spool holder on its side with supports, although it may be possible to print it without them. The only area where support material was used was inside the hole for the teflon feed tube, which is a small bridge that might not require support. DittoPro print settings included medium resolution, sparse fill, and three shells. The print took 2 hours and 36 minutes to complete. To attach the spool holder to the frame, simply push the bottom section in first, followed by the top. It's a snug fit, but not easy to remove. In the photos, you'll notice that I haven't yet trimmed the feed tube shorter. I plan to do so soon, as it works better with this design. The feed tube simply sits in the hole without needing glue or any additional fasteners. When loading a new roll of PLA, I usually keep the feeder tube out of the print head and feed the filament into the bottom of my feed arm, which directs it up into the tube. Once it pops out the other end, I load it into the printer as usual. I used Fusion 360 for the design.