Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
Hi all,
I received my Original Prusa Enclosure yesterday and put it together today! Very straightforward process and I'm delighted with the result.
One problem I ran into upon completion– the inside-mounted spool holder does not fit with my LED Light Bar mod.
Are there any models / instructions for a top-feeding system into the enclosure? I have plenty of room above the enclosure and wouldn't mind the spool holder sitting on top.
Two other ideas for a workaround:
- Remove my light bar so that I can use the printer - guaranteed to work 🙂
- Move the inside-mounted spool holder to the bottom right– is this possible? It looks like I'll need to print a reversed spool holder from the one that shipped with the enclosure.
Thanks,
-ch
RE: Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
My second idea worked!
I took the right-mounted spool holder, and mounted it in the bottom left so that I could print a new one that was mirrored.
Success! Now I'm printing handles. 🙂
Setup looks amazing at night– I'm going to need to find a new stand for it because the enclosure barely fits on the existing IKEA furniture.
RE: Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
I've got the same light bar mod, which I LOVE inside the enclosure. However, I've also had a Sunny filament dryer that doubles as a filament stand. It feels pretty well on top of the enclosure, so I'm just feeding through the top of the enclosure right now!
RE:
Sorry for hijacking the thread but it´s the first time I see the full assembly of the PTFE tube in the enclosure. Is it not a PITA to feed the filament into the extruder and to remove it at unloading (particularly if some more force is needed to pull), in comparision to the original version of directly feeding the filament into the extruder top? Looks to me it would be so much easier to have the PTFE tube end above the printer (held in place by whatever construction) and from there going into the extruder outside of the tube? I mean this is not a printer where the filament needs to be actively pushed through the tube anyways....
Thanks
Chris
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
I intentionally did NOT install the PTFE tube and fitting on the printer. I didn't want to mess with that whole process, especially while changing filament colors. I'm 5 hours into a print right now, feeding the filament in through the top of the printer and everything working perfectly.
If you don't want to install the PTFE tube, just skip that step. Everything is working well for me so far.
RE: Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
I've got the same light bar mod, which I LOVE inside the enclosure. However, I've also had a Sunny filament dryer that doubles as a filament stand. It feels pretty well on top of the enclosure, so I'm just feeding through the top of the enclosure right now!
Nice! I'd love to see a picture of how you've got it working with the PTFE tube feeding in– or are you just doing it bare from the box down through the enclosure into the printer?
Sorry for hijacking the thread but it´s the first time I see the full assembly of the PTFE tube in the enclosure. Is it not a PITA to feed the filament into the extruder and to remove it at unloading (particularly if some more force is needed to pull), in comparision to the original version of directly feeding the filament into the extruder top? Looks to me it would be so much easier to have the PTFE tube end above the printer (held in place by whatever construction) and from there going into the extruder outside of the tube? I mean this is not a printer where the filament needs to be actively pushed through the tube anyways....
Thanks
Chris
It's a little more work than without the enclosure– but not to the point where I would consider a PITA– just a minor inconvenience knowing how it worked previously. 🙂 The little attachment connecting the extruder and the tubing makes it so you just have to push the filament up and through and it all feeds in directly– it doesn't require any more work than feeding the extra filament initially and winding up the extra after unload.
RE: Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
It's a little more work than without the enclosure– but not to the point where I would consider a PITA– just a minor inconvenience knowing how it worked previously. 🙂 The little attachment connecting the extruder and the tubing makes it so you just have to push the filament up and through and it all feeds in directly– it doesn't require any more work than feeding the extra filament initially and winding up the extra after unload.
Thank you; that´s comforting. I had recently given an MK3s+ to one of my sons as a present and he invested - on my advice - in the enclosure, which should be arriving in a few days but of which little was known at the time of order. I got a bit concerned when I noted this PTFE setup, as I print inside a re-purposed server rack where I can easily feed and remove filament top-down.
Thanks again, enjoy the enclosure
Chris
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
I intentionally did NOT install the PTFE tube and fitting on the printer. I didn't want to mess with that whole process, especially while changing filament colors. I'm 5 hours into a print right now, feeding the filament in through the top of the printer and everything working perfectly.
If you don't want to install the PTFE tube, just skip that step. Everything is working well for me so far.
That looks awesome Jason– thank you for sharing the pictures and explanation.
RE: Alternative (top-feeding) Spool Holder
I stumbled upon this thread when having issues with the default enclosure spool holder hitting another existing mod. I ended up with and did a top loader like others above suggested and this has worked out great.
I ended up remixing G.design’s great spool roller with magnetic rails to hold it to the enclosure. This lets it stay put when in use or moving around but can easily be removed as needed. If it’s helpful for anyone else here’s the link.
https://www.printables.com/model/413860-magnetic-base-for-ultimate-spool-holder