SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — tricks to keep filament spooled

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-27T14:57:27Z

nickythegreek wrote:

Devil,
I have this issue with my Octave spools alot until they are about 50% gone. I use a couple of magnets on top of the case with a butter knife blade attached to them. The butterknife handle protrudes out towards the spool and I have a xmas ornament hook on the end of the knife which guides the filament.
I really need to print out a nice lookin piece to replace this hack.

This has to be my favorite Solidoodle hack so far. Kudos to you my friend.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-27T05:16:50Z

nickythegreek wrote:

The filament wants off my octave spool like its a prison break. I believe that when it does popoff, it is due to over rotation of the spool itself.

I wonder if something like this, hanging down on an axle between the spool and the printer might help at least keep the filement centered on the spool.
I have added the stl if anyone is interested, (and actually has a printer!) and cares to test it.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-17T21:49:01Z

I'm using a modified SD spool mount which raises the spool and turns it 90 degress.

I am using Octave filament and just made some large diameter cardboard discs (with holes for the spool rod to go thru) about 9" in dia. that I press against the sides of the spools using split spool locator rings (that fit on the spool rod.) that I printed.

Now it doesn't seem to matter if the filament unspools a little as it can't really go anywhere.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-17T03:57:50Z

I like your setup Irish. Wish I had room for cabinet to do something similar.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-16T17:26:02Z

Here's a couple of photos showing my setup and the reel holder I built to hang from the shelf above the printer. The PVC pipe is not glued so it's easy to take apart. This cabinet was a wardrobe cabinet I purchased from Menard's and modified a bit. Used it as a modeling worksite for a number of years and converted it to use for the Solidoodle. There was another shelf that I removed.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-16T04:42:21Z

Great to see some options, ill hopefully get a chance this weekend to tinker more.

I think most of the problem is big jumps in y axis. Like going from front of printer to the back, this relieves tension on the filament and gives enough slack to allow it to coil over the spool.

An ideal setup would be something that could allow the spool to freely rotate forward but as soon as there is slack it would rotate backwards to pull tight again.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-16T01:52:48Z

Very low tech... Very effective though.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T22:57:00Z

My spool now hangs from a shelf above the printer. I made a yoke of 1" PVC pipe and that hangs from two large cup hooks screwed into the shelf bottom. Works real good as the spool edge is about 3" in over the top of the printer. I have removed the useless metal cabinet.

Before that, when I used the holder that Solidoodle sent, I put a small spring binder clip on the top frame and threaded the filement through one of the crome handles to the print head. Held the filament perfect and no issues with it coming off the spool.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T20:19:40Z

lawsy's Filament Guide Valve works great for me to stop spool unwinding and tangle issues. I use it for Solidoodle, Octave, Ultimaker, and printed spools... http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:31317

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T18:24:16Z

Try the clip, see if that works for you

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T17:04:02Z

The filament wants off my octave spool like its a prison break. I believe that when it does popoff, it is due to over rotation of the spool itself.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T16:31:31Z

Okay here's the idea, you clip this on your pvc tube and snug it up next to your spool so it can't over rotate.

I'm at work so I can't print and test the fit, but it should snap over the tube and be snug enough not to let the spool wander or overspin. Finger pull / material saving so you can take it back off if you want.

If anyone wants to give it a try and give feedback I can modify the design.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T15:53:58Z

nickythegreek wrote:

cmetzel,
My filament will still flop off the spool with your guide installed. I use my knife setup along with your guide.

How does it flop off, does the spool itself move so it's pulling on an angle, or does a quick tug by a y-axis movement keep spinning the spool until there is an overspin causing filament to come loose?

In either case, using the clip that I mentioned to keep tension against the side of the spool would prevent both of those issues.

I have an idea for a tension clip that people could use, let me draw something up.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T15:46:17Z

cmetzel,

My filament will still flop off the spool with your guide installed. I use my knife setup along with your guide.

Re: tricks to keep filament spooled

2013-01-15T15:23:48Z

My thingiverse design for this issue.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:38222

This helped me a lot, plus you can add the sponge to it to wipe the dust off the filament. I also use a little spring hair clip that I have next to the spool to keep it under the slightest tension so it doesn't overspin. I have the original spool holder design that came out perpendicular to the back of the machine.