Filament Holder

thingiverse

Filament Holder for Creality Ender 3 (Pro) I designed this assembly to meet my specific needs - I wanted a filament holder that aligns its pivot point precisely with the center axis of the spool. Additionally, I desired optimal alignment between the filament emerging from the spool and the extruder. Finally, I sought an efficient method to support the filament spool on both sides while allowing for seamless filament spool changes. The final design consists of seven printed components: left and right brackets, left and right arms, two caps, and a spool. The brackets attach securely to the left frame rail using four M5x10mm bolts and four M5 T-slot nuts. The caps are connected to the spool via bearings, ensuring smooth motion. The spool/cap assembly then sits snugly in the slots on the arms. The assembly I printed for myself functions flawlessly. It is incredibly easy to change filament, and it feeds smoothly into the extruder without encountering any extreme angles. I have included STL files for two different spool lengths - one accommodates longer spools with more positioning options, while the other will still work effectively. The bearings used are standard 8x22x7 bearings from Amazon (link below). The M5 T-slot nuts employed were identical to those provided with my Ender 3 Pro. The brackets require four total T-slot nuts and bolts. Two nuts were repurposed from the filament holder that came with the printer, but you may have two leftover nuts on hand if so. Unfortunately, I only had one extra nut available, so I ordered a lifetime supply from Amazon (link below). Bearings: (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L7PIURQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). T-Slot nuts: (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KSFB7BG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). EDITS: 1) I have added new spool files to accommodate filament rolls with internal diameters as small as 2 inches. Most manufacturers work fine with the originally sized spools, but one manufacturer produces a smaller diameter roll that requires these adjustments. 2) To maximize strength, it is recommended to print the caps at 100% infill.