Side Mount Spool Holder With Bearings

thingiverse

This is an innovative spool holder designed specifically for the Ender 3 line of printers. I developed it to address several issues inherent in the standard top-mounted spool holder design. The first problem that this solution aims to solve is the tendency of the filament to wear down the arm on the extruder due to its extreme approach angle. By relocating the holder to a lower side-mounted position, the filament is fed directly into the extruder in a straight path, eliminating this issue. The side mount bracket is also designed to slide, providing a more convenient and smooth filament changing experience for users. This design incorporates 3D printed bearings to reduce stress on the extruder motor and facilitate smoother filament feeding, resulting in improved print quality. To accommodate different size spools, I have included tapered filament cones. Additionally, this system includes an optional feature designed by Adriano Alfaro that prevents filament interference with the z-screw.