Lint Roller Spool Holder

thingiverse

I recently acquired a spool of Hatchbox filament but encountered a challenge getting it to fit on my Printrbot Simple Metal's spool rack due to a too-small hole. I prefer the idea of using horizontal spool holders but they consume considerable plastic, so I combined that concept with my original design which featured a lint roller attached to an aluminum handle by clamps. Playing around with OpenSCAD inspired me to create this filament spool holder as a weekend project. It is incredibly straightforward and resulted in a practical spool holder. To simplify the design, I utilized NetFAB to trim off the guide arm from my Printrbot SpoolHolder and added a mounting point along with a trimmed lint roller. At first, I planned on using friction welding to connect the roller and guide arm but ultimately found their fit was tight enough that I'm unsure if this method is truly necessary. For rapid printing at approximately 40 minutes (~), the STL model includes walls as thin as 1mm. Although somewhat flimsy, it has performed well so far. However, there is a slight deflection of the arm when pulling filament but this hasn't proven to be an issue yet. Walls and lint roller dimensions can both be adjusted within the Scad file. Instructions: Locate an existing lint roller with substantial usage. Remove the tape from the tube portion and measure its diameter. A diameter of around 36mm makes it suitable for use. If not, simply adjust the size in the Scad file (keeping in mind I have only used one measurement). Mark a straight line across the tube's surface where the original tape was and cut through it to isolate the tube. Cutting accurately isn't crucial but leaving approximately 50mm of extra length grants flexibility in case adjustments need made in the future. Next, print out both parts. It is crucial for optimal stability. For optimal quality and strength in prints, the best settings will likely depend on the individual user's experience with the equipment they have at hand