Thingiverse
Spool Hub Adapter for Voxelab Aquila by vinyard
by Thingiverse
Last crawled date: 3 years, 12 months ago
This started as a remix of similar Thingiverse hub adapters. Measurements were taken from the ten rolls of filament that I had plus recommendations on Thingiverse. The idea progressed like this...Decrease filament force needed to turn spool by reducing shaft size. Torque=RadiusForce at filament=RadiusForce at hub. Where force at hub=friction coeff. *wt. of spool. My shaft hole is now about 7 mm, shaft is about 6.5 mm (1/4"), probably too small :)
First I made a big washer, ground off the rim, and added a clip. The stl is included here in the washers stl. This worked to get my small hub Hatchbox onto the printer! but always looked like it was on the verge of jambing.
Second, I made an adapter, just two disks with steps, the stl is included here, You have to confine the disks or drill a hole for a bolt or rubber band to hold them together, then you need a rod holder... hmm!
Third - I replaced the bolt/rubber band hole, with a screw together spool hub adapter. and finally...
Fourth.. this happened: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4825018, making a rod holder much simpler by providing a cam lock fitting for the Aquila upright. Thank you Dan, saved me a lot of hours and aggravation. the rod is 1/4," a little flimsy but good enough and perhaps too little friction. Room for a 1/4" washer is provided, and again, clips are used to capture the rod and hold the filament spool on the rod, see photo. A plastic washer was then added on the filament side, created to provide a flat surface in contact with the spool.
Final conclusion, the first mod was probably sufficient, just a giant washer. With very little friction and a bunch of work, the spool tends to unwind itself... who knew? May have to add a tensioning spring :)
Step 1 - drill one or two holes (or add a holes to print) to screw or rubber band the two halves together near the hub of the spool. Yes, it will be inside the central step but isn't shown on the STL file.
Step 2 - On the shaft, add two spacers to prevent jambs and keep screws away from walls of the hanger, the suspension system. Add clips and washers to shaft and adapter bolt to hold shaft and adapters in place.
Version as screw together system is offered. Works OK.
Step 3 - Make hangman's like suspension using my trusty carbide chop saw (up ~8," over/above about 6," down about 7." out of aluminum 1" square strut). Attach to upright on Voxelab or other printer (clamp strut to voxel upright, drill two small suspension holes for #8 screws. Also drill the two holes, 7mm in diam. and exactly 5" from top rail for the aluminum shaft. OK, so the reason for no picture, it's been raining and I didn't want to walk to my shop in the rain. I'll get there, trust me, I'll get there. Patience my son. Somewhere here it should say, "work in progress." Made in Tinkercad. My filament was slipping even with a raft when I made these, didn't feel like tweaking the printer starting layer heat, squish, and speed, so I just went ahead with it. I now have 4 very nice (but leaky) coasters and four thready bottom layer deformed spool adapters :) But all is well, all is well!
First I made a big washer, ground off the rim, and added a clip. The stl is included here in the washers stl. This worked to get my small hub Hatchbox onto the printer! but always looked like it was on the verge of jambing.
Second, I made an adapter, just two disks with steps, the stl is included here, You have to confine the disks or drill a hole for a bolt or rubber band to hold them together, then you need a rod holder... hmm!
Third - I replaced the bolt/rubber band hole, with a screw together spool hub adapter. and finally...
Fourth.. this happened: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4825018, making a rod holder much simpler by providing a cam lock fitting for the Aquila upright. Thank you Dan, saved me a lot of hours and aggravation. the rod is 1/4," a little flimsy but good enough and perhaps too little friction. Room for a 1/4" washer is provided, and again, clips are used to capture the rod and hold the filament spool on the rod, see photo. A plastic washer was then added on the filament side, created to provide a flat surface in contact with the spool.
Final conclusion, the first mod was probably sufficient, just a giant washer. With very little friction and a bunch of work, the spool tends to unwind itself... who knew? May have to add a tensioning spring :)
Step 1 - drill one or two holes (or add a holes to print) to screw or rubber band the two halves together near the hub of the spool. Yes, it will be inside the central step but isn't shown on the STL file.
Step 2 - On the shaft, add two spacers to prevent jambs and keep screws away from walls of the hanger, the suspension system. Add clips and washers to shaft and adapter bolt to hold shaft and adapters in place.
Version as screw together system is offered. Works OK.
Step 3 - Make hangman's like suspension using my trusty carbide chop saw (up ~8," over/above about 6," down about 7." out of aluminum 1" square strut). Attach to upright on Voxelab or other printer (clamp strut to voxel upright, drill two small suspension holes for #8 screws. Also drill the two holes, 7mm in diam. and exactly 5" from top rail for the aluminum shaft. OK, so the reason for no picture, it's been raining and I didn't want to walk to my shop in the rain. I'll get there, trust me, I'll get there. Patience my son. Somewhere here it should say, "work in progress." Made in Tinkercad. My filament was slipping even with a raft when I made these, didn't feel like tweaking the printer starting layer heat, squish, and speed, so I just went ahead with it. I now have 4 very nice (but leaky) coasters and four thready bottom layer deformed spool adapters :) But all is well, all is well!