Locking Spool Holder

myminifactory

This is a two-piece spool holder designed to lock onto 1.5" x 0.75" wood rails, sized for standard 1 kg spools, and modeled in Onshape. Once attached to the rail with a spool added, the holder will not pop off without either delaminating walls apart or ripping the plastic across layers. Two dovetails hold parts together where they interface with the wood, reducing material required to prevent snapping by forming a complete loop of material around the rail. The spool is held very close to the wooden rails (~5 mm), reducing torque on both the wood and plastic. The holder itself is very narrow (25 mm wide) and can easily fit into most spools, attach to rails in either space left by used filament, or even fit in front of a nearly full roll without interference. Assembly is simple: slide the main hook over the top of the rail, insert the locking plate into the slot from the bottom at a 90-degree angle (clockwise or counterclockwise), and make sure the T-shaped key is in line with the top surface. Rotate the locking plate until sides are flush with the main hook's sides. You now have a complete locking spool holder. You may wish to do this before attaching parts to a rail, depending on printer tolerance, as parts may seize and it's easier to deal with when free. Clearance on parts is 0.4 mm.