Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

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Chein
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:48 pm

Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by Chein » Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:54 pm

I live in the tropics where humidity between 80%-100% is the norm.

As many already know, prolonged exposure of PLA to humidity is bad, the best thing to do is to keep the PLA spool in an airtight (dry) container when not in use.

The PLA tub is especially handy for my case when I have long stint of printing using PLA (over a period of days or weeks). I could just leave the spool on the printer without the unwanted exposure to humidity.

Its made from an airtight food container (10" x 12" x 5.5"). With added desiccant (silica gel packs) to keep things dry, they can be seen at the bottom of the tub.

As for the filament spool roller, it's made from 6061 aluminum, and delrin, with 30mm bearings. There are many other (easier) ways to do this, this approach is just an excuse to give the lathe a bit of a workout :D
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Chein
Kuala Lumpur

jsc
Posts: 1864
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:00 am

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by jsc » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:30 pm

Very nice. Did you have to manufacture the aluminum and delrin parts?

sprior
Posts: 384
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:37 pm

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by sprior » Thu Jul 24, 2014 1:43 am

Very nice!

Chein
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:48 pm

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by Chein » Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:57 pm

jsc wrote:Very nice. Did you have to manufacture the aluminum and delrin parts?
Yes, the aluminum and delrin were made using a lathe
Chein
Kuala Lumpur

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j-rod
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:48 pm
Location: San Francisco

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by j-rod » Sat Jul 26, 2014 3:08 am

Hah! the plastic container is brilliant. i'm gonna have to go find one now...

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Dave K
Posts: 102
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:13 am

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by Dave K » Sat Jul 26, 2014 7:41 pm

That is too cool :D Nice solution!

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Jules
Posts: 3144
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2015 1:36 am

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by Jules » Mon May 18, 2015 11:49 pm

What a fantastic idea! :D

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PcS
Posts: 667
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:19 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by PcS » Tue May 19, 2015 3:10 am

That is pretty awesome !!! Nice work !!!

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Matt_Sharkey
Posts: 347
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2014 3:10 pm

Re: Simple PLA tub, and not so simple filament spool roller

Post by Matt_Sharkey » Tue May 19, 2015 4:48 pm

Looks great. I'll have to add it to my list....longer every day....

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