RepRap Filament Spool Holder (side mount)

thingiverse

I use this filament spool holder with my Mendel RepRap, consisting of three distinct parts. Parts one and two require a minimum 50% fill rate when printing, but part three, the bearing component, can be printed at an extremely low fill rate of 10-20%. I printed this model in PLA using a hot end temperature of 215C and a heated bed temperature of 60C. The clamp part (number one) requires two M3 bolts and nuts that must be hand-tightened for proper securement. The internal diameter of the bearing component may vary depending on the diameter of the filament spool, which can range from as large as 58.5mm to as small as 50mm. I have provided various file options to accommodate different diameters in the blender files. First, securely attach part one to the front side bar of the RepRap using two M3 bolts and nuts that should be hand-tightened. Next, thread a roughly 50cm-long M8 threaded rod through part one and secure it with a nut on both sides. Insert another M8 bolt onto the first rod, followed by placing part two onto it, securing it further with an M8 bolt. Attach another 50cm-long M8 threaded rod to part two by threading it through from top to bottom. Secure this second rod in place using nuts that should be placed on both sides of part two. Place one last nut a short distance away, roughly two or three cm away from part two. To properly seat the bearing components, apply a generous amount of lubricant and firmly press each into place with a vise grip. Once complete, slide one copy of part three (with its bearing and rim sides facing outside) onto the first rod that extends past the front bar, then gently position the filament spool over this second threaded rod. Slide another part-three piece into place to create snug clearance on the opposite side from the previously set bearing. To tighten all three rods, apply gentle pressure until they snap firmly in place using an additional M8 nut that securely locks everything together with minimal slack.