Filament Guide / Filter / Clip 3-In-1

thingiverse

I've had one major gripe since I started printing: Filament care and storage have been a constant source of frustration.\r\n\r\nRecently, I purchased some high-end filament that was plagued by blockage issues from the start. Despite storing my spools in ziplock bags with desiccant and keeping them clean, I soon discovered that the filament itself was contaminated with dust and particles.\r\n\r\nIn search of a solution, I found several filters on the market, but they all had their drawbacks. One style clipped onto the top of the hotend, which worked well, but made changing filaments a hassle.\r\n\r\nAnother inline filter I tried was based on sneakypoo's design and worked well initially, but it rattled when placed on the hotend or filament guide.\r\n\r\nThe biggest inconvenience was that every time I changed filaments, I had to remove the filter, clip the old filament, load the new one, work it through the filter, then the guide, reload it, and repeat.\r\n\r\nClearly, there must be a better way. That's why I created this solution: a 3-in-1 Filament Care System that addresses all these issues at once.\r\n\r\nThis system includes a filter that can be added without unloading the filament, a clip to store your filament without kinking or tangling it, and a guide with rounded edges to fit into most guides and provide just the right amount of tension to keep the filament from slipping off the reel.\r\n\r\nFor those who prefer to use oil, I've also included a small sponge that can be saturated with mineral oil. Some users swear by this method to reduce friction in Bowden tube designs, although I haven't had the chance to test it yet.\r\n\r\nOne of the photos shows a filter after 10 hours of printing, even with clean filament stored in desiccant bags, you can see how much dust and dirt accumulates. \r\n\r\nI'd love to hear your thoughts on this design. Your comments are always appreciated!\r\n\r\nStill to be done: cleaning up my filament frame guide and adding it to the system, but as long as it has a hole for the filament to pass through, this filter should work with any guide.\r\n\r\nLet's get started!