Spool holder with printed bearings

thingiverse

This is a bearing spool holder requiring only 10 paper clips as additional hardware. All other components are 3D printed and capable of holding wide spools. The design is specifically intended for the Ender 3 printer and is mounted over the original holder that comes with the printer. All parts can be printed without support at a layer height of 0.12mm. Begin by printing one body, one cover, and 20 wheels. Next, unfold 10 paper clips to create 10 straight pieces of wire, each 1mm in diameter and at least 10cm (4 inches) long. Having all parts ready, ensure that the wire passes through the hole of the wheels. If it doesn't fit, do not enlarge the wheel's hole; instead, look for a thinner wire. A thick wire will block the mechanism. To assemble, place your original holder inside the body and insert a wheel into the first window while passing the wire through it. Continue inserting the wire until you see it in the second wheel's window. Only attach the wheel after ensuring the wire is properly positioned. Pass the wire through the second wheel until it reaches the stop wall on the other side. Skip two windows and repeat this process for the third wheel, continuing until all lines are complete. The assembly may be tricky and requires patience; don't rush it. It can be challenging to get the wire into the hole of the second line of wheels. Once finished, the body should spin freely over the original holder if done correctly. If not, inspect the wires for any bends. If you have excess wire length, trim it and fit it into the cover. After installing your new holder, remember that the spool can now turn freely. Exercise caution to avoid a tangle of entangled filament.