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josh.w3
(@josh-w3)
Estimable Member
Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

Last night I started testing a modified setup for the spool holders and filament "brakes" (for lack of a better term). I simply don't have enough desk space available to use the stock spool holders and provide an additional 40cm of clearance behind the printer. I'm not planning on re-organizing my office and buying a new workbench, so hopefully my testing will yield a working solution in this smaller footprint (or you might be seeing my MMU2 pop up for sale on eBay...I already have a Pallette 2 Pro on pre-order as an alternate plan).

You can see the setup in the pics, so I won't elaborate much. My filament break base is a mod of PRUSA's base part. I added a flat base and fixed them to the table with heavy-duty double sided tape. Seems to be working okay so far, was able to complete 2 test prints last night without issue. My only concern at this point is that in such a compact space, the slack loops that are made when the filament unloads have significantly increased potential to become tangled up on their adjacent counterparts. So far that hasn't happened, only more testing will tell.

Is anyone else trying anything similar?

- My MK3 Power Supply and Pwr Mgmt Upgrade
Posted : 13/09/2018 9:15 pm
tedder
(@tedder)
Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

Hey, that's a good idea for those of us that want to put spools above the printer.

Posted : 14/09/2018 1:01 am
Olef
 Olef
(@olef)
Prominent Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

Excellent work! I too will have to wall mount spools due to lack of space. Any chance you could share the stl of your desk mount filament guides please?

Posted : 14/09/2018 2:13 am
Steve
(@steve-15)
Active Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

Your pictures nearly demonstrate the biggest problem I've had with the MMU2 spoolholder and filament break setup. If the filament isn't routed just right then the slack loop can lay flat and has a good chance of catching on a corner of a neighboring part and binding up.

Steve

Posted : 18/09/2018 4:48 pm
Paul Meyer
(@paul-meyer)
Honorable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

It seems like a simple wall between each of the brakes would solve the problem of potential tangling with adjacent. Not pretty, but likely effective.

I would just use an 8x10 piece of cardboard cut from a box, taped to the table and back wall until I could come up with a more permanent structure.

Posted : 19/09/2018 12:40 am
josh.w3
(@josh-w3)
Estimable Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup


Excellent work! I too will have to wall mount spools due to lack of space. Any chance you could share the stl of your desk mount filament guides please?

Here is the base I was using. I'm going to try a new solution without the brake mechanism next.

- My MK3 Power Supply and Pwr Mgmt Upgrade
Posted : 19/09/2018 1:39 am
joreal
(@joreal)
Estimable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

How about placing spools under the table or on the side of 3D printer? And I hope someone design MMU 2.0 spool holder using 21-cup Rubbermaid container. My current printer setup is using 21-cup Rubbermaid containers with bowden tube and placed those beside the printer.

Currently my MMU2.0 still waiting for shipment and hopefully they ship it on Oct15 as stated on their table.

Posted : 19/09/2018 5:14 am
ad.lamy
(@ad-lamy)
Estimable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

Waiting on the MMU2, supposed to be shipped to me early october, it's been a while I thinked about the ideal spool holder for my needs, the holders that comes with the kit are not OK for me because I don't have enough space behind my printer.

At this time I'm near to complete a wall mount spool holder with five individual threaded shafts and tapered nuts that can accept most commons spools for easy replacement, a 2 axis filament guide in which the PTFE tube can be firmly inserted.

Apart printed parts I used 19mm MDF for the main frame and two metal rods, one 10mm splited in five for the shaft axle and one 4mm for the filament guides.

I desinged two threaded mainshaft, with or without bearings, for the bearing version you need HK1012 needle rollers and rectified steel rod, but at my opinion it's not worth the additional cost, I printed and tested only the bearingless version.

Just waiting on the carpenter for the MDF frame.

Links

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3107842
https://grabcad.com/library/prusa-i3-mk3-mmu2-spool-holder-2

Posted : 19/09/2018 7:20 am
Olef
 Olef
(@olef)
Prominent Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup



Here is the base I was using. I'm going to try a new solution without the brake mechanism next.

Thank you, much appreciated! 🙂

Posted : 19/09/2018 7:32 am
ad.lamy
(@ad-lamy)
Estimable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup


Waiting on the MMU2, supposed to be shipped to me early october, it's been a while I thinked about the ideal spool holder for my needs, the holders that comes with the kit are not OK for me because I don't have enough space behind my printer.

At this time I'm near to complete a wall mount spool holder with five individual threaded shafts and tapered nuts that can accept most commons spools for easy replacement, a 2 axis filament guide in which the PTFE tube can be firmly inserted.

Apart printed parts I used 19mm MDF for the main frame and two metal rods, one 10mm splited in five for the shaft axle and one 4mm for the filament guides.

I desinged two threaded mainshaft, with or without bearings, for the bearing version you need HK1012 needle rollers and rectified steel rod, but at my opinion it's not worth the additional cost, I printed and tested only the bearingless version.

Just waiting on the carpenter for the MDF frame.

Links

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3107842
https://grabcad.com/library/prusa-i3-mk3-mmu2-spool-holder-2

Ready for the MMU, mounted spool support this WE, I can't wait to test it in the real life.

Posted : 24/09/2018 6:34 pm
tedder
(@tedder)
Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

I built a cabinet to hold my filament and a dehumidifier in anticipation of the MMU2. It's done well, dropping humidity from ~65% to ~30%. I wonder if a piece of large-diameter ABS or PVC pipe would be a good way to contain the excess filament on its way to the printer- they couldn't tangle or get wrapped around anything. Dunno yet, though.

I'll be able to keep the filament in the cabinet tangle-free by dropping it through bowden tubing. I haven't drilled it out yet.

Posted : 01/10/2018 2:28 am
ad.lamy
(@ad-lamy)
Estimable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

Operating as expected,
I cut the provided PTFE tubes, inserted in the spool holder filament guide a part of 15 centimeters, and adjust to my needs the remaining portion.

Posted : 06/10/2018 8:21 am
The Squall
(@the-squall)
Eminent Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

I have very limited space to work with and I'm worried about pulling the trigger on anything that's too intense..

I wanted to hang up a dowel (like a closet dowel) behind the printer but I'm worried about not having a break for it (spools hanging down). Josh did you have any success with removing the break?

Posted : 06/10/2018 3:47 pm
Olef
 Olef
(@olef)
Prominent Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup


Operating as expected,
I cut the provided PTFE tubes, inserted in the spool holder filament guide a part of 15 centimeters, and adjust to my needs the remaining portion.

Hi Andre

Thank you for posting up your files, my MMU2 is being delivered tomorrow and I must use a solution such as yours due to limited desk space. Is everything still working as it should?

Thanks! 🙂

Posted : 07/10/2018 11:08 am
ad.lamy
(@ad-lamy)
Estimable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup



Operating as expected,
I cut the provided PTFE tubes, inserted in the spool holder filament guide a part of 15 centimeters, and adjust to my needs the remaining portion.

Hi Andre

Thank you for posting up your files, my MMU2 is being delivered tomorrow and I must use a solution such as yours due to limited desk space. Is everything still working as it should?

Thanks! 🙂

Hi Olef,

For my setup it's working fine, the rear printer plate is at 19cm from the wall and I mounted the spool holder at 42cm from the desktop, I tried various filament guide positions, I retained the position where the filament is feeded from the front of the spool and goes backwards into the PTFE tube, to make a soft curve up to the printer, when unloading the filament it can't wrap around anything and the spool doesn't unwind.
I have to shorten some PTFE tubes comming from the printer to get the perfect lenth for each spool.
The link to Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3107842 was in my first post.

Regards.

Posted : 07/10/2018 7:35 pm
Olef
 Olef
(@olef)
Prominent Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup


Hi Olef,

For my setup it's working fine, the rear printer plate is at 19cm from the wall and I mounted the spool holder at 42cm from the desktop, I tried various filament guide positions, I retained the position where the filament is feeded from the front of the spool and goes backwards into the PTFE tube, to make a soft curve up to the printer, when unloading the filament it can't wrap around anything and the spool doesn't unwind.
I have to shorten some PTFE tubes comming from the printer to get the perfect lenth for each spool.
The link to Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3107842 was in my first post.

Regards.

Excellent info, thank you very much for your help Andre 🙂

Posted : 08/10/2018 12:29 am
ad.lamy
(@ad-lamy)
Estimable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup



Hi Olef,

For my setup it's working fine, the rear printer plate is at 19cm from the wall and I mounted the spool holder at 42cm from the desktop, I tried various filament guide positions, I retained the position where the filament is feeded from the front of the spool and goes backwards into the PTFE tube, to make a soft curve up to the printer, when unloading the filament it can't wrap around anything and the spool doesn't unwind.
I have to shorten some PTFE tubes comming from the printer to get the perfect lenth for each spool.
The link to Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3107842 was in my first post.

Regards.

Excellent info, thank you very much for your help Andre 🙂

Hi Olef,

Just updated the filament guide stl, the bore for the PTFE tube was a little to tight, I had to drill it to insert the tubes.
In my opinion you can easely raise the spool holder, that makes more room when the filaments are unloaded.

Posted : 08/10/2018 10:26 am
Peter L
(@peter-l)
Honorable Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup


I have very limited space to work with and I'm worried about pulling the trigger on anything that's too intense..

I wanted to hang up a dowel (like a closet dowel) behind the printer but I'm worried about not having a break for it (spools hanging down). Josh did you have any success with removing the break?

This is more-or-less exactly what I'm doing and it works just fine.

I've mounted the spools above and behind the printer, about two feet above and maybe six inches behind. 65cm above and 10cm behind for those who prefer metric.

Posted : 08/10/2018 7:47 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup

Hi Andre,

I use a similar setup for my MMUv1 but I found it difficult to see the ends of the PTFE from a distance to see which colour is printing... so I created some black ferrules to go on the end of the lower PTFE tubes... so as each colour prints, the black ferrule for that colour raises out of the gloom behind the printer and shows which colour is active...

Regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 08/10/2018 8:23 pm
Olef
 Olef
(@olef)
Prominent Member
Re: Modified MMU Spool Holder Setup


Hi Olef,

Just updated the filament guide stl, the bore for the PTFE tube was a little to tight, I had to drill it to insert the tubes.
In my opinion you can easely raise the spool holder, that makes more room when the filaments are unloaded.

Appreciated! 🙂

Posted : 09/10/2018 1:34 am
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