Spool Bearings (double bearing with retainer) by TheMakerRob

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

Brief: This is a double bearing design with integrated retainer.
I had a few difficulties with my Rostock where it came to dealing with spools:
1) Spools did not want to turn freely on the spool holder.
2) The screw on the arm side of the holder would catch on spools.
3) The spool would jump over the lip of the stock holder.
4) All the above caused a variety of issues with printing.
My solution was to create a couple of spool bearings (with large side walls) which addresses all the above issues. The way this is used is that the larger spool bearing is inserted first (and on the side going against the arm of the holder), and then the smaller bearing is inserted on the other side (toward the side that has the lip), then the spool with the two bearings are placed on the spool holder.
Benefits and results:
1) Spools now spin VERY freely!
2) Spools no longer jump off the spindle!
3) Spool bearings work with every spool I've found!
4) Printing is now quieter because the spool no longer jumps around!
I recommend printing this part in PLA, as PLA is harder than ABS and makes for a better bearing surface with less friction.