Filament (Spool) Extrusion Indicator

thingiverse

I prints in three pieces that snap together seamlessly. The spindle is designed with a key feature that prevents the halves of the "spool" from getting misaligned, ensuring precise assembly. It comes equipped with a strand of filament that serves as an indicator for gauging full rotations of the motor. My design works flawlessly with 3 8mm x 3mm magnets, two almost worked but would slip frequently. The intended design parameters include printing at 0.15mm layers and may struggle with nozzle sizes larger than 0.4mm. This design also makes a great fridge magnet. Assembly Instructions: * When removing the filament print from the bed, take care to avoid breaking off the little strand of filament. * Cut the built-in support off the end of the filament strand before removing it from the build plate using side cutters. * Press one magnet into the spindle on the back piece, making sure it's seated correctly in the recessed area. * The back piece is the one without a hole all the way through. Ensure the magnet is fully inserted, leaving about 1mm of space at the top of the spindle. * Snap the front and back pieces together onto the filament, aligning the key ridges on the inside of the filament with the slots in the spindles. * The front piece will snap into place more easily than the back due to the magnet preventing the back's spindle from flexing. * Stack two more magnets outside the back piece and attach them to your stepper motor.