Multiple Modular Screw Spool - Printable

thingiverse

This is a versatile 3D printing filament spool that can hold multiple filaments in one convenient package. If you're like me, you probably have several samples lying around without a proper spool; this design aims to organize them efficiently. The model consists of three distinct components: the *screw*, the *nut*, and the *separator*. The separator is essentially a plate where you attach the ends of the filament, but there may be a more technical term for it. Combining these parts creates modular segments that can be screwed onto a central screw axis to form separate compartments for each filament. It's relatively easy to customize the design to suit your needs; I've included two configurations for 1 and 3 compartments on spools of 75mm and 93mm diameters. The separator features pre-drilled holes for accommodating the filament, with two close to the nut's external cylinder and eight along the outer ring. The holes are designed to allow for smooth winding in both directions, minimizing filament bending, and can be used to "sew" the filament through. Key dimensions include: - **External diameter of the screw:** 54mm (-0.2mm tolerance) - **External diameter of the nut cylinder:** 58mm - **Diameter of the separator:** 160mm - **Diameter of the internal hole (inside the screw):** 42mm - **Thickness of the separator:** 3mm - **Screw pitch:** 8mm - **Screw lead:** 32mm (the screw has 4 starts) - **Gap between the threads and the nut:** 0.4mm (each screw and nut are shrunk by 0.2mm) - **Diameter of the filament holes:** 4mm - **Filament holes:** 5 clockwise and 5 counterclockwise, with 2 near the nut and 8 alternating along the outer ring Potential improvements include increasing the diameter of the nut cylinder to reduce "spring" effect on the filament. Some pre-made configurations are provided: **Measure your spool holder bar before printing!!** - 75mm spool, 3 slots: Separator-Screw-72mm.stl, 3x Separator-Nut-24mm.stl - 75mm spool, 1 slot: Separator-Screw-72mm.stl, Separator-Nut-24mm.stl, Nut-48mm.stl - 93mm spool, 3 slots: Separator-Screw-90mm.stl, 3x Separator-Nut-30mm.stl - 93mm spool, 1 slot: Separator-Screw-90mm.stl, Separator-Nut-30mm.stl, Nut-60mm.stl Customizing the spool is straightforward. Download Part-Separator.stl, Part-Screw.stl, and Part-Nut.stl to create compartments of any size by combining these parts. You can also trim down existing components or duplicate them to achieve custom lengths. The separator has a 42mm inner hole that matches the screw diameter, but you may need to remove part of it to assemble with a nut. The screw and nut are each 8mm in height, making it easy to duplicate them for longer assemblies. One idea is to print just the screw without a separator, then attach nut-separators to create reusable spools.