LockSpool V3: Parametric, reusable (1 part printed twice)

thingiverse

**Download the latest STLs from [LockSpool at Printables](https://www.printables.com/model/129989). I have uploaded this design four times. A Thingiverse glitch has "disappeared" V1 and V2 from public access, possibly due to the number of large STL files. Because any update also requires uploading all new STL files, I am _not_ maintaining this design on Thingiverse anymore.** LockSpool V3 is a reusable filament spool made from a single part printed twice, and joined together with a quick twist, with a snap-lock to hold it in place. The design can be customized to fit any spool-less filament refill coil by adjusting just six parameters. This is a good print for combining small lengths of leftover filament. I printed the parts in the photographs with a nearly-empty spool of silver-gray Prusament. You can see where I had to switch over to my blue PLA. The photographs are from V1. These designs include channels in the hub to accommodate tie wraps. **The channels deliberately do not line up** in the open and closed positions. Instead, they overlap enough in each position to clear the tie-wraps. I based the designs on examples and dimensions that I could find (linked in the list below), but have not tested all designs with all refills. In some cases (like SUNLU), the LockSpool needs no channels because the manufacturer's own reusable spool is designed to be loose. This design produces spools compatible with these filament coils, and any others for which dimensions can be found: * [MasterSpool](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2769823) (750 g) * [SlantSpool](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2850604) (1 kg) * [Filaments.ca EconoFil](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2869973) (1 kg) * KVP KOIL (1 kg) * [Fusion Filaments](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3164353) (1 kg) * [SUNLU](https://www.thingiverse.com/make:1004902) * [Inland / eSun](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3938005) (linked model is a couple mm too narrow) * Paramount 3D * [Lee Fung 1kg](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3582542) and [Lee Fung 800g](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3253954) Why so many? Well.... [](https://xkcd.com/927/) Parameter values are shown below and in the OpenSCAD code comments. ### Improvements over original MasterSpool and similar designs: * Both halves are the same. Print just one part as many times as you need. * Quick twist to connect the halves, no multiple turns of a threaded part. ### Improvements over SlantSpool: * Snap-lock mechanism to keep the two halves in place. * Tie-wrap slots to aid removing and installing refill coils. * No large gaps in the hub, the better to wind your own spool if needed. * Parametric design. OpenSCAD file included. * Better CC-BY-SA license (SlantSpool has a "no derivatives" restriction). ### Other improvements: * Lighter weight, less material, and faster printing (41% faster than original MasterSpool, 24% faster than SlantSpool, both of which use about 1/4 kg of filament just to print one spool! The MasterSpool-compatible LockSpool is only 130 grams. * Designed for printing without top or bottom layers, improving print speed while remaining strong. * Multiple parts stack together neatly on a shelf! ### 500 g MasterSpool refills: * https://www.pushplastic.com/products/masterspool-refills ### 750 - 850 g MasterSpool refills: * https://fiberology.com/en/fiberology-filaments/refill/ (EU only) * https://shop.3dfilaprint.com/filament-refills-453-c.asp (EU only) * https://3d-print-works.com/products/masterspool-refills-pla-filament (UK only) * https://www.anodas.lt/search?search=refill (EU only) * https://botland.store/1240-refill-filaments (EU only) * https://filament2print.com/gb/special-pla/1285-refill-pla.html (EU only) * https://www.jacksfilament.com/ (EU only) * https://ultimate3dprintingstore.com/collections/spooless-filament (UPDATE: I am no longer seeing 750 g refills on this site; they are all 1 kg for Koil and SlantSpool. If anyone knows of an American source for MasterSpool refills, let me know.) ### 1 kg refills for other spools: * EconoFil - https://filaments.ca/collections/all/brand_filaments-ca+stock_in-stock - inexpensive when they have it in stock * KVP KOIL - https://www.villageplastics.com/the-filament-koil/ (uses SlantSpool) * SlantSpool -- https://www.filastruder.com/collections/veracity (says MasterSpool but it's actually for SlantSpool) -- https://ultimate3dprintingstore.com/collections/spooless-filament * Fusion Filaments - https://fusionfilaments.com/collections/filament-coils * Paramount 3D - https://www.paramount-3d.com/product-page/paramount-3d-pla-filament-1-75-mm-pla-1-kg-master-spool * SUNLU, Inland, eSun - Amazon.com * Lee Fung - https://www.amazon.com/s?me=A3LPS8KLQZNAJ6&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER ### Spool dimensions in the OpenSCAD code: The STL files provided were made using the following settings in the OpenSCAD code for the different types of spools. | Dimension | MasterSpool | SlantSpool | EconoFil | Fusion | SUNLU | Inland / eSun | Paramount | Lee Fung 1kg / 800g | |---|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:| | spool_dia | 198 | 200 | 200 |198 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | | hub_dia | 102 | 100 | 74.5 | 76 | 79 | 90 | 100 | 90/103 | | bearing_dia | 52.5 | 52 | 47(a) | 48(a) | 52 | 52 | 52 | 53 | | inner_width | 46.7 | 62 | 58 | 67 | 57 | 55.5/57.6(c) | 70 | 57(b)/46 | | numslots | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | | hubindent | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0(d) | 3 | 3 | 3 | | hubwall |10 |10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9/10 | (a) EconoFil and Fusion Filaments bearing diameter is made smaller here to compensate for internal structure of LockSpool hub design. (b) Lee Fung dimensions based on manufacturer's spool dimensions modified by their comments on https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3582542/comments (c) Inland and eSun spools are nearly identical. The eSun settings should work for both. (d) The reusable spool provided by SUNLU is designed to be loose so that tie-wrap channels are not needed. So it is here. If you want channels, use values `bearing_dia=50, hubindent=2, hubwall=7`. ###Version history V1, early January 2022 V2, January 2022 * Increased latch spring thickness in OpenSCAD file. * Widened tie-wrap slot so that the tie wrap has clearance at any twist angle of the spool halves. * Updated and simplified input parameters. * Added parameters for SUNLU, Inland, eSun, and Paramount3D refills. * Moved dimension label from bottom to side, making more room for a larger bearing diameter on narrow-hub spools. * Version 2.1: Updated SUNLU spool parameters based on [this make by mjomalley](https://www.thingiverse.com/make:1004902) V3, February 2022 * Lock spring no longer interferes with bearing hole volume in SUNLU and EconoFil designs. * Loosened up clearance of bayonet pins with entry holes for stacking. * Removed tie-wrap channels from SUNLU design because the spool provided by SUNLU doesn't need them either. This allowed the bearing diameter to be 52mm. * Added parameters for Lee Fung spools. * Removed separate KOIL design - KVP KOIL is compatible with SlantSpool, and provides a SlantSpool STL on their website. * V3.1: Updated Inland / eSun inner widths from measurements provided by [cjlee89](https://www.prusaprinters.org/social/199516-cjlee89/about)