filament gauge

thingiverse

This is a filament gauge designed to record the number of turns the spool makes. The counter features an intermittent gear assembly with ten distinct stages. Each stage boasts a 10:1 ratio, ensuring that the input gear has only one tooth, while the output gear possesses ten teeth and ten circular teeth that halt rotation. Each stage in this design corresponds to a specific place value - units (个), tens (十), hundreds (百), and thousands. To give you a better understanding of its functionality, consider this: a 1.75 diameter ABS filament with a density of 1000kg/m3 weighs about 415m in length for every kilogram. Given that the spool's middle diameter is approximately 155mm, 1kg of filament will complete around 852 turns (although more precise calculations may be possible). This gauge allows you to track the number of turns made by your filament, providing an easy way to monitor how much filament you have used. For each new roll, simply rotate all four dial plates so their pointers align with zero for a fresh start or leave them to count as they turn. Bear in mind that you may need to procure certain bearings; models 618-5 and 61803 would suffice. The gauge boasts the following components: four dial plates, two interval_gear_2 elements, four cursors, four expanders, two springs, and a pair of 61803 bearings plus four or more 618-5 bearings. Should you have the ability to edit step files, feel free to adjust the height of the dial plates and cursor units for a visually pleasing aesthetic. If you require detailed instructions on assembly, please refer to the three provided gif files which guide the user through attaching the cursor, plate, gear, and spool holder in a methodical sequence.