Parametric wire/cable/thread spool

thingiverse

This is a custom spool design that can be tailored to suit your specific needs. For demonstration purposes, I've created two versions: one holding approximately 5m of 1.7mm diameter cable and a larger version capable of holding a greater quantity. The design features holes to secure the end of the thread from a spool, minimizing the risk of annoying tangles. The current test prints are being produced in ABS, so I'll be relying on acetone to join the parts together, achieving a solid finished product. Alternatively, pressing the parts together may provide sufficient hold that melting the surfaces will not be necessary. For individuals receiving long lengths of thin cable and seeking to store it in a way that prevents tangling, this design might prove useful. The intention is for the spool to hold around 5m of 20awg silicone-coated wire, while the larger model can accommodate multiple times that quantity. Other users have developed their own ideas for spools and holders, and a search on Thingiverse for "wire spool" reveals several interesting designs worthy of consideration before printing. Update January 22, 2019: I've replaced short variable names with more descriptive ones to improve understanding. The customizer was not pulling through the detailed descriptions I added, so I used both industry terminology and simpler terms to make the variable names and purposes universally clear. Update January 21, 2019: I've converted the design to parametric attributes and designated it as a customizer. Currently, wire capacity estimates may be wildly inaccurate due to test prints not yet being completed. Once my test prints are used to hold some cable, I'll have a better idea of their capacity. Second update today: I fixed an issue with the .scad file by correcting variable definitions and adding descriptions of sensible values. Update January 20, 2019: I tweaked the design to maintain the same inner hole diameter of 18.6mm at both ends, ensuring the spool spins more uniformly.