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Topic: Spool/Reel Source?

I like the 8" spools that many sources use. I'd like to buy some for new filament and to roll up my non-reeled batches. Can anyone recommend a source?

Would anyone be interested in joining me for a co-op buy if we must get them in bulk?

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

I just print spools, 8" diameter. I have a dozen or so floating around now...

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

We had planned on selling 8" spools cut out on our cnc router. Keep an eye out for those in the next few weeks! Also, old wire spools would work or we have used spools from a wire EDM machine.

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

OSPrinting wrote:

We had planned on selling 8" spools cut out on our cnc router. Keep an eye out for those in the next few weeks! Also, old wire spools would work or we have used spools from a wire EDM machine.


+1

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

http://www.soliforum.com/post/17511/#p17511

Cheap way to print your own

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

It would be nice if the injection molded versions could be sourced but printrbot does sell laser cut spools for $15 and there are tons of laser cut versions on thingiverse and there are a lot of laser cutter services that can do it for less than $15 a spool.

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

Something I'm considering is molding spool ends.  I would use a technique like I used for the Mickey soaps - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:22441

Print an object designed to pour silicone into, creating a rubber mold for the spool end that conserves silicone as much as possible.  Smooth-on has a general purpose resin that can be de-molded in 10 minutes.  There is also a silicone that cures in 75 minutes, so you can make a half dozen molds in an afternoon.  Then crank out maybe 3 complete spools every 10 minutes depending on how many you can pour during the resin's pot life.

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

IanJohnson wrote:

Something I'm considering is molding spool ends.  I would use a technique like I used for the Mickey soaps - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:22441

Print an object designed to pour silicone into, creating a rubber mold for the spool end that conserves silicone as much as possible.  Smooth-on has a general purpose resin that can be de-molded in 10 minutes.  There is also a silicone that cures in 75 minutes, so you can make a half dozen molds in an afternoon.  Then crank out maybe 3 complete spools every 10 minutes depending on how many you can pour during the resin's pot life.

YOU.... would be a god, sir!

Let me know how that works out for you!  I for one would use either that or cmetzel's TP tube spool idea for multiple spools.

+1

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

These would probably work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-1-2-x-4-1-4-E … 4ac5598a12

$5 USD including shipping

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

I feel cheap.

I use an old toilet roll and some thick cardboard ends. smile
Works just as good, only the looks are a little cheap.
Maybe i color them black.

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

A coffee can would probably work too

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

The spools on Ebay have pretty small hubs.  Fine for wire, but a little tight for filament.

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Re: Spool/Reel Source?

Here's a spool I made from cardboard.  The hub has a 3 inch diameter, 6 inches long.  The outer circles are about 6 inches in diameter.

The hole in the center is about 1 inch in diameter.  It's modeled on the Octave ABS spool.  Hot glued together.

http://i.imgur.com/MNSgS9N.jpg

14 (edited by jesse 2013-06-16 18:31:32)

Re: Spool/Reel Source?

Lowes has cardboard spools in plumbing department.

They're not for sale, but you can take them to register and they may let you have them for free.

You may need to trim them to the right size.

The plastic hubs are super useful, since they allow the hub to join the sides (press fit)

http://i.imgur.com/1Qx7G0N.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Klv711T.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/X0zSVK7.jpg

15 (edited by 2n2r5 2013-06-17 05:46:36)

Re: Spool/Reel Source?

that hub looks printable... might have to make an openscad parametric reel hub smile

SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

16 (edited by 2n2r5 2013-06-17 06:31:07)

Re: Spool/Reel Source?

Done tongue

Made it so you put your own text around the outside. The text will be recessed into the sidewall of the hub. I added "spikes" for cardboard reels. There is still a bunch to clean up on this and I am open to suggestions or you can alter the code yourself. Make sure you extract the entire package to a folder of your choice. The /Writescad/ folder must remain in the same directory as spoolHub_V1.scad.

Post's attachments

spool hub.zip 4.04 mb, 3 downloads since 2013-06-17 

spoolHub_v1_test.stl 642.85 kb, 13 downloads since 2013-06-17 

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SD3 w/ mods:
Glass bed with QU-BD heat pad upgrade, threadless ballscrew w/ 8mm smooth rod, spectra line belt replacement, lawsy MK5 extruder, Lawsy replacement carriage, E3D hotend, Ramps 1.4 w/ reprap discount controller, DRV8825 drivers, 12v 30A PS, Acrylic case, Overkill Y-idlers, Filament alarm, Extruder fan + more.

17 (edited by jesse 2013-06-17 14:11:37)

Re: Spool/Reel Source?

Nice, I'll measure the plastic hub and try to get the OpenSCAD model to match (if it doesn't already).