Printrbot Simple Metal Spool Holder w. semi printed ball bearing & thread lock

thingiverse

Here are many mounting holders for the Z-axis rods, so I designed my own variant using metal balls I had lying around. Integrating them into the spool holder was a great idea! Not only did I learn to create threads from scratch, but I also got the clearance right on the first try. The bottom part clips onto the printer rods, and 6mm metal balls fit snugly in the groove. The spindle snaps onto the pin, securing it in place, while the nut holds everything steady. With a bit more time, this design can definitely be enhanced. As is, however, it works beautifully, even after drawing inspiration from existing designs. I've since updated several components: "bottom" has been fine-tuned to accommodate the snap-on knob perfectly, while "arm_V2" boasts a protruding section that prevents filament from falling off the spool during long travel moves or large retractions. Additionally, I created a slimmer nut for spools with smaller center holes ("nut_slim") and a shorter spindle for smaller spools ("top_shorter"). Print this design with 0.2 layers to achieve the best results. Make sure your clamping screws are M4 in size, and the metal balls you use should be precisely 6 mm in diameter.