Food Dehydrator Filament Roller

thingiverse

I've been scouring Thingiverse for a free moving filament stand/roller that requires minimal effort to pull out the filament, making my extruder motor extremely happy. However, every project I've seen so far has been disappointing, and I'm missing some of the necessary materials. The static filament rollers I've come across use ball bearings, which is not what I need. Due to the COVID-19 situation, ordering online or overseas isn't a viable option for planning ahead. My idea is to continuously dry heat the filament while printing using a modified food dehydrator. This method is ideal because some of my structural projects require 12 hours or more of printing, and I don't want to expose my filament to moisture during this extended period. I have a 35mm OD x 17mm ID x 8mm height ball bearing lying around that I haven't used yet, so I thought it was time to create my stand/roller. This completely replaces the middle deck of my cheap food dehydrator with a 3D printed one. Note: You'll need to print this using PETG or ABS; PLA will melt instantly. Here's my filament roller in action: https://youtu.be/sTKCAwzzblg If you think I've earned your gratitude, consider buying me a beer! https://www.paypal.me/jharwinbarrozo