Ender 3 Filament guide and detangler

thingiverse

Hardware Requirements: 3x M3 12mm bolts and nuts for the holder bracket 1x M3 20mm bolt and nut for the roller. I've been testing this design on my Ender 3 for several weeks, and so far, it's working well. I came up with the idea after my filament got tangled three different times during overnight prints. The reason was fused filament on the roll. When the extruder pulled it free, built-up tension forced the spool to spin, creating loose loops of filament that jumped over each other and tangled. This contraption attempts to solve this problem by doing three things: 1. It keeps the filament unwinding from the center of the spool, minimizing the chance of loops jumping over each other as they usually happen on the edge of the spool. 2. The paddle keeps loose loops from moving and separates the main line from the rest of the spool. 3. It prevents loose loops from forming by absorbing built-up energy from filament tension. The paddle may also help separate fused filament, but I haven't observed this yet. I printed two full spools with this apparatus installed, and had no issues or tangles. At least it didn't make things worse. Now for the actual printing instructions: You can print all parts except the paddle and paddle rod in any way you like. Printing them largest flat side down usually works best, but if you want a better surface finish, you can print them standing up. Print the paddle rod vertically on its square base. For the paddle assembly, you must print it on its side (see Cura screenshot), otherwise, the paddle will fuse to the arm and won't move. Once you've finished printing, wiggle the paddle up and down until it breaks free and moves freely. It should have about 180 degrees of motion. I've included a no-bearing roller, but I suggest downloading one that uses an 608 bearing; you can find plenty of them on Thingiverse's filament guides. I personally use one with a bearing. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Hopefully, the pictures are self-explanatory for how to assemble and use it.