Parametric SMD Stacking Magnetic Mini Spools by Kadah

Last crawled date: 3 years, 4 months ago

A stacking, configurable mini spool for holding random lengths of SMD tape. There's space on 3 sides for labels. Top has a cover peeler and retention, and in the default size, enough space to dispense several components at once. Useful for hand PnP with vac pickup tool.
For 0805 passives, I think it holds up to about 500 for the 50x58mm default size. Tape with taller components will fit less, and larger components make not be able to wound as tight. The spool part is more of a cover to keep the tape from falling out.
The 12x3mm might be the size I've used for 5050 LEDs.
I find that the easiest way to load is to thread front end of tape in to the top slot (feed holes towards open edge) and coil tape in to case from outside end.
The 50mm width was chosen to fit within the small drawers of a Akro-Mils 10144REDBLK storage cabinet.
Magnets are 3mm dia, 4mm tall. Magnet diameter is also a parameter. When installing, make sure that all poles are aligned to the same direction. I place the magnet on the frame of my bench and press the printed part over the magnet.
All sizes are parameters in Fusion360 and easily altered to fit various tape size or to change the overall size of the unit. I have included all the sizes I have used so far. If you do not have/use Fusion and need another size, leave a comment, if Thingiverse is working and sends me a notice, I'll generate other sizes as requested (within reason and as time permits).
Update Oct 2020:
Featured on Hack-a-Day
Added remixed-froms for the where the idea for this came from. (Hopefully that works this time)
Also see https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3952021 which is a similar idea, separate execution.
Update Oct 14 2020:
By request, added a version that should work with Robin rails in a few 8mm and 12mm tape sizes. Let me know if the self latching version works. My 8mm frame is too narrow for the spring latch design as-is.
I would add Robin's as a remix on here, but Thingiverse's remix selector is broken, yet again.
Will start on a DIN rail version soon.
Update Nov 07 2020:
Added extra large 80mm and 100mm variants by request.
Added DIN rail mounting version by request. Clip is based off this one by jaredwolff. Again, still unable to add that as a remixed-from due to Thingiverse continuing to be a broken pile of garbage.
Both of these are untested.