TagSnap – Reuse your Spools, Snap your Tags!

TagSnap – Add Smart Tags to Any Spool

For the "Reusing Cardboard Spools Design Contest," I developed an RFID tag holder that can be used with filament spools from other manufacturers – specifically those without an integrated tag. The holder fits spools with a hole diameter of 51–63 mm, allowing retrofitting for AMS-compatible filament tracking.

This way, two new rolls of the same color and material can be tagged with a single RFID tag from an old spool – efficient and sustainable.

Positioning is key: The tag must be placed at slot 1 on the right and slot 2 on the left so that the AMS readers can correctly detect it – similarly for slots 3 and 4.

The holder uses an integrated spring mechanism. PLA is generally suitable, but it loses its spring tension quickly with frequent use. PETG offers clear advantages here: it remains shape-stable, flexible, and reliably snaps back into the spool.

With TagSnap, re-tagging spools from other manufacturers is simple and durable – all without gluing or screws.