Roller Spool Holder for Prusa i3

thingiverse

This is a replacement spool holder designed specifically for the Prusa i3 Mk2/Mk2S 3D printer, utilizing common 608 bearings to minimize friction. In contrast, the original Prusa spool holder features small stubs where the spool rests, resulting in unnecessary rubbing and increased filament tension during printing due to excessive friction on the print carriage. To address this issue, this replacement holder provides a more secure spool retention system while maintaining easy spool changes. The roller with bearings is mounted on a 1/4-inch aluminum rod using optional bushings for added stability. As an added bonus, I have included the design for an expandable roller that can be disengaged to accommodate extra-wide filament spools. Although the fixed roller works better in most situations, the expandable roller offers flexibility and support for wider spool widths by fully separating the halves of the roller. <u>Required Materials:</u> * 2-4 608 bearings (depending on the desired roller type) * At least 7 inches of 1/4-inch aluminum rod <u>Tools Needed:</u> * Hobby Knife * Metal File