Printrbot free-spinning fillament spool holder (using 608 bearing)

thingiverse

I wanted to design a free-spinning spool holder that would mount seamlessly onto my Printrbot Simple Metal without consuming a lot of material to print. This ingenious design relies solely on a single 608 skateboard bearing, effortlessly available online, which allows the spool to spin freely, thus allowing the extruder to avoid any unnecessary extra work overcoming friction. In the future, I'll be adding more spool sizes - simply inform me if you require anything else by specifying the spool hole size (diameter) that you need, along with the brand of your spool. Currently available spool sizes include: 32mm, 38mm, 48mm, 50mm, and 54mm. Depending on your printer settings, you might have to adjust the dimensions slightly to get the right fit, as the bearing and the Printrbot z-guides should sit fairly snugly within the holes and not come apart easily. Update: I've uploaded the Sketchup file so you can make any necessary adjustments. Here's a detailed guide to assembling your spool holder: You'll need either frame.stl (straight version) or frame_v2.stl (better, angled version), along with one of the spool holders tailored to fit your specific spool. To start, measure the diameter of the hole in your filament spool and select a spool holder that's equal to or slightly smaller than this measurement. For example, if you're using the Hatchbox spools with 32mm diameter holes, you would need the spool_32mm.stl file. You only require one spool holder per spool. If your spool has a hole size not covered by these provided files, don't hesitate to adapt the design or simply let me know. Additionally, in order to assemble the spool holder, you'll also need to source a 608 bearing - standard bearings widely used in skateboards and hobby parts, making them easily available on eBay, online retailers, or even local skate shops. Once you have printed out the required parts and secured your 608 bearing, you can proceed with assembling the spool holder. Everything fits together nicely via friction, although if things seem too tight or loose, feel free to adjust your print scaling, modify the 3D file, or DIY-it using sandpaper and glue.