Spool Holder for 3/4 inch dowel

thingiverse

This is a spool holder I designed to fit snugly over a 3/4 inch dowel in a dry box. It should accommodate any 1 kilogram spool with ease. The bearings are precision fitted into the ends, utilizing bb's from a standard bb gun for added stability. I printed all of the bearing components at my printer's lowest layer height capability and the body and nut of the spool holder at .2 mm layer height. Only the main body required supports during printing, and I employed a touching build platform exclusively. The threads turned out perfectly clean without any need for post-processing, although this may be due to my printer's specific settings. A brim was used on the bearing components, while a skirt was applied to the rest of the print. Once press fitted, the cage for the bearings faces outward. To load the bearing, place the inner and outer race on a flat surface with the inner race positioned inside the outer. With the two races aligned in one spot, add the bb's and manipulate them until they all fit smoothly. Work the bb's around the bearing, then press fit the cage over the bearings in place. They may require disassembly and minor filing to ensure smooth operation.