Simple spool system for a Mendel (or other 3d printer)

thingiverse

The initial plan involved designing a straightforward, bearing-based spool system. The designer subsequently introduced a novel design consisting of two new STL files - 'spool_v2' used twice and 'z-leadscrew-base_2off'. To implement this setup, one requires 6 M4x16 cap screws, 12 M4 washers, 6 M4 nylock nuts, three 180mm studs M8, one 280mm stud M8, and four to six 250mm studs M8 (depending on the desired height of the spool system). Additionally, 28 M8 nuts, 24 M8 washers, and four M8 large washers are necessary. The design incorporates two bearing 608 units and two blocks of wood of any size. It is adjustable between a diameter range of 100mm to 180mm to accommodate most spool sizes. Notably, the model is partly shelled out to minimize print time without compromising strength. However, it cannot be printed on a MakerBot. The designer initially aimed for a smart, compact design that could be assembled but opted for haste and suggested acquiring a Mendel instead of a makerbot. A v3 revision includes marks for balancing the studs to minimize force required to rotate the system, while an updated v4 extends the spool for compatibility with full rolls.