Top Spool Holder for Direct Drive

thingiverse

I've remixed my previous spool holder design to accommodate my new direct drive extruder upgrade. Unfortunately, this version requires some hardware modifications. Sorry about that. The extruder end of the reverse bowden setup is specific to the Microswiss direct drive extruder upgrade as it attaches to the lever arm. You might need to grab a design tailored to your extruder setup, and I'm sure there are many options available online. Caveats: If you're planning to mount your spool on top of the machine, take necessary precautions to avoid problematic vibrations: 1. Brace your machine properly. It's essential. 2. Set your machine on vibration-dampening feet (squash ball feet work great). 3. Ensure your spool holder is securely attached. Any play can cause vibration issues. 4. Be cautious with acceleration and jerk/square corner settings to eliminate vibration at the source. Now, let's move on to the good stuff. Features: * It holds your spool securely in place! * Mounted on top of the frame using 5mm bolts attached to drop-in frame nuts (in my case). * Uses a cylinder from the original spool holder. I have a funny story about that. * Includes an attachment for reverse bowden setup. You can use mine or design your own. Issues: * This design removes some height from your printer. The last time I reached 100cm was never, so I don't see any issues with that. However, you might. Reverse Bowden Setup: Using a reverse bowden setup is crucial to avoid artifacts on your prints and loose coils. When the x-axis trolley and extruder traverse at speed, they can tug on the spool directly, causing problems. A reverse bowden setup prevents this issue entirely. Funny Story: While redesigning the spool holder, I thought it would be a great opportunity to add some bearings to the cylinder for smoother operation. And boy, was it smooth! However, with no friction, the spool started over-rotating due to filament tension, resulting in loose coils. I added the reverse bowden setup and discovered its true purpose. Sometimes, simplicity is the best approach. The original cylinder provided the perfect amount of friction for incremental rotation without allowing the spool to rotate on its own steam. It's a lesson in keeping things simple!