Spool saver - emergency solution for broken cardboard spools!

thingiverse

--- UPDATE: New thread design that prints easier, and now in two sizes --- Did you drop your cardboard filament spool? Did it break? Well, you have been naughty and now you are in trouble. Luckily, help is here! Meet the "Spool saver"! A 3D printable hub that will bring a cardboard/all-paper spool with a detached side back to life. If you know that you (or the kids!) are rough on your spools, print a few and install them directly when you take the spool out of the box! ---- This is how you use the Spool Saver ---- Step 1. In the unlikely event of a spool breaking, carefully pick it up and make sure the filament doesn't fall off the centre core like a slinky. Leave it in a quiet place until you have printed the spool saver. Step 2. Download the STL files for the Spool Saver (note the long "inside" version is for 1 kg spools, the short for 250-500 g spools). They share the same "outside" part. Step 3. 3D print the spool saver. You need one "inside" and one "outside" part. No rafts or support needed. Step 4: If one spool side has completely detached, place the spool with the detached side upwards. Gently lift the spool (making sure the filament doesn't slide off like a slinky) and insert half of the spool saver through the bottom. Step 5: Gently adjust the filament, if needed, and place the detached spool side on top. Step 6: Insert the other half of the spool saver and turn clockwise to thread the two halves together. Step 7: You might have to gently "work" the spool and the filament to get the side to settle into place correctly while you are tightening the thread. Step 8: Your spool is saved and you can get back to printing! :-D You might want to keep an eye on the spool to make sure the thread doesn't come loose over time. Happy Printing! :-) ------------------------------------------------------------- If your spool is completely ruined, like if you have dropped it in the bathtub, you might want to check out the Masterspools that replace the entire spool: Master spool V3 by Das Filament: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3401928 Master spool by RichRap: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2769823