Spool spindles for use with 3x6x2mm bearings

cults3d

Large spools are approximately 45mm in center diameter, while basic ones are around 21mm. Both feature 2.5mm lips at the ends to securely hold the spool in place, necessitating holes that are at least 5mm larger than the center diameter. Designed for use with two-spindle filament holders, these spindles utilize a piece of 3mm tubing and 3mm x 6mm x 2mm bearings, commonly employed in RC aircraft. To minimize printing time and filament usage, both spindles are engineered without internal supports or structures. The smaller spindle is constructed as a solid cap, suitable for most printers due to its compact size. In contrast, the larger one features four arched legs that enable hassle-free printing without support requirements. However, since my M3D printer is not large enough, I had to resort to cutting out makeshift legs from scrap plywood. To accommodate this limitation, I manually adjusted the bearing openings by knife due to my printer's significant backlash. Fortunately, these adjustments should be sufficient for most users with better printers; in some cases, minor padding may even be necessary.