this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2023
93 points (97.9% liked)

3DPrinting

15557 readers
170 users here now

3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

The r/functionalprint community is now located at: [email protected] or [email protected]

There are CAD communities available at: [email protected] or [email protected]

Rules

If you need an easy way to host pictures, https://catbox.moe may be an option. Be ethical about what you post and donate if you are able or use this a lot. It is just an individual hosting content, not a company. The image embedding syntax for Lemmy is ![](URL)

Moderation policy: Light, mostly invisible

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

3d printed threads and snap connectors are nice, but M3 bolts and nuts are more robust and look dope. They also make the model easier todesign print, since you don't have to worry about tolerances as much.

STEP/STL and instructions available here: www.printables.com/model/548770-master-spool

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They've started selling filament without spools to cut down on waste. This is a reusable spool for those filaments.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Who is they and how does this work? Sounds interesting.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

They = quite a few brands so far. The ones I know of include microcenter (inland), fiberlogy, sunlu, and esun. I'm not sure how many are interchangeable but they sell the refills wound onto a cardboard tube/core with a few straps keeping the winds from falling to the side since there are no spool sides to keep it in place. You slot the cardboard core onto your reusable spool sides and once attached you can cut the straps to release the filament.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So you have to do all this instead of having 2 cardboard circles on the side of the spool. 2 recyclable circles

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I think it's more of a replacement for plastic spools, since cardboard doesn't work well in edge roller spool holders and master spools are almost always reusable plastic which does work in edge roller spool holders. If your spool holders work with cardboard rims then yeah there isn't much of a reason.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What's the price difference between spool and no spool?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like formfutura filament. Their refills cost like 20 moneys per kg (PLA). Their easyFil PLA is 40. Their brand has the biggest price difference. Usually the difference is up to 5. So still savings.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Interesting. I have a stock pile of filament that I need to burn through first, but I might consider that moving forward.

I think at some point the community should consider simply buying pellets and going straight from pellets to the printer's extruder (no interim filament to make). Pellets are roughly 1/10th the cost of filament so the savings are there, but that's also usually at larger quantities.

I know some large format printer's exist already that use pellets amd that therr are filament extruder out there, but I feel that's the trend for regular hobby grade printer's eventually.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Problem is extrusion consistency. If you want them to be affordable, you need to sacrifice precision. We print with 0.4 mm nozzles, and any inconsistency will show up. Plus the color is less uniform. There are already pellet extruders. Cnc kitchen tested one a while back.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Lol, i actually don't know. I only know it exists. I haven't actually printed anything in awhile but i like to see what other people are making and doing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Nice, I've thrown out so many spools. Esun has sold filament without spools for a while but my supplier seemed to never have stock.