Lazy Susan Spool Holder

Overview

This spool holder uses children's marbles to create a lazy susan/thrust bearing style spool holder.  There are inserts to account for the different inside diameter of spools.  This is intended to be used within a food dehydrator like this along with pneumatic fittings and teflon tubing so your filament will stay dry while printing.

Background

I like bearings.  Ok, fine.  I love bearings.  Their smooth action is magical but not everyone has or wants to order bearings.  I feel sorry for those people, but I recognize they exist.  For parents who also don't want to join the “Bearing Life”, this model can work perfectly.  Consider this mana from the heavens if you are a parent and meet these conditions:

• Have lost their marbles due to their child.
• Have a child who has marbles.
• Has a spouse who bought a dehydrator to make fruit leather or fresh pasta but decided it was not worth it.

I think we both know what you should do.  Steal your child's marbles for some sweet retribution and borrow that unused dehydrator in the name of upcycling.  Now revel in the satisfaction of having dry filament feeding directly into your printer.  You don't need to thank me.

If you are from Alabama with a banjo on your knee, you may have heard this called by its more southern name, a lazy “old suzanna”.

Usage

If you haven't modified your dehydrator with the necessary parts, consider googling this first.

1. Determine the size of your spool and print that insert along with the top and bottom.  If you use too small an insert you may tip over the spool holder instead of spinning the top. 
2. Fill the track on the bottom with marbles.  Dont overfill it.  In fact, using the least marbles possible will yield the smoothest spin but may induce balance problems.  Match the number of marbles to your risk tolerance.  
3. Put the bottom in your dehydrator.  Place the top on it.  Place the insert into the top.  Place the spool on the insert. 
4. Test the spin.  If your spool holder moves around inside your dehydrator, consider using zip ties to secure it to the bottom rack.  

Print Settings

• Material: PETG
• Infill: 10%
• Walls: 2
• Supports: No