Spool Filament Guide for FolgerTech FT-5

thingiverse

Are you fed up with manually cradling full rolls of filament during a print, only for the filament to come loose and tangle on its way off the spool? I was, so I came up with this innovative filament guide that puts an end to the problem once and for all! It's constructed from three separate components: two identical side pieces and one end guide piece. Simply slip the sides onto a 1/2-inch metal conduit (or smaller rod) so that the interlocking bevels face outward. Next, thread the filament through the end guide and slide both side pieces into place until they snap snugly into position. Switching to a new spool is a breeze - just push the interlocks inward and slide the end guide off. Although I designed this for the FolgerTech FT-5, its versatility means it'll find numerous other applications. One thing worth noting is that this filament guide has a snug fit, so be sure your extrusion multiplier is set to 0.48 wall thickness and your ESteps are accurate. If you overextrude, it simply won't fit. Given that some users may not have their printers dialed in just yet, I've added an extra 0.5mm gap to the updated files. What's more, I've narrowed the guide area for the filament to keep it centered on the roll, and rounded off the edges to facilitate smoother filament flow. I've also included a set of guides designed specifically for wider rolls, complete with the same enhancements. Hopefully, these will help you just as much as they have helped me!