LulzBot Mini, Ball Bearing Spool Adapter

thingiverse

This is a remix of my adapter bushing for spools with an ID of 56 mm x 70 mm width, which fits perfectly on the stock spool arm of the LulzBot Mini. I modified the adapter to use (4) 10 x 15 x 4 mm ball bearings, specifically designed for the Team Associated RC10 B5m/T5m RC car. To reduce printing time, I removed as much extra material as possible. This adapter should fit spools with an inner diameter of 47 mm to 60 mm and a width of 65 mm, but I've only tested it on 56 mm and 57 mm ID spools. I've also included the .STEP file so you can modify the bosses and adapter to work with your own bearings and spools. When modifying the design, be sure not to make the bosses too small in diameter or they may crack under the weight of the spool. You want the bearings to fit snugly on the bosses, with only the outer race spinning freely. Good luck! Printer Settings: - Printer Brand: LulzBot - Printer: Mini - Rafts: No - Supports: No - Resolution: 0.38 mm - Infill: 30% - Notes: I used 30% infill to support the weight of a full spool, and so far, the bosses haven't cracked. I printed my adapter in ABS with the stop tab side facing up (180 degrees from the orientation shown), ensuring no supports were needed. The bearing cutout is short enough to bridge over easily. Post-Printing: - Check fit of the bearings carefully! - I designed the bosses to perfectly fit my set of bearings, ensuring the inner race presses snugly onto the bosses and doesn't spin freely. If the fit is too tight, you can sand the bosses, but be aware that the enclosed bosses will be difficult to access. If the bearings are loose, you can carefully superglue the inner bearing race to the bosses.