ReelThin1500

thingiverse

I upgraded the reel holder supplied with my printer by installing a 4mm tungsten carbide rod as an axle. The steel alternative would also work just fine, or even stainless steel for added durability. I printed these custom parts along with the new reel holders and now they roll smoothly with minimal resistance, ensuring no TPU build starvation occurs. Here's an example product similar to what I used: a 3-12mm K20 tungsten carbide rod available on eBay in the UK. These custom reel-holders accommodate e-sun 500g, e-sun 1kg, and TPU reels. While I haven't seen other reel profiles yet, it's possible to create custom centers for different types of reels. The chevron design provides added toughness without compromising on lightness. Although the holder doesn't perfectly fit the TPU reel, a few pieces of blu-tack or sticky-fixers can be used to secure it in place by attaching them to the ends of the rod and the feet of the holder.