Geeetech M1 Low-Friction Spool Holder Adapter

I could not find a suitable spool holder / low-friction adapter for the Geeetech M1 online, so I decided to design my own.

The model was designed in OpenSCAD, which was an important point for me. I wanted the design to be fully parametric and easy to modify later if needed.

This is the first version of the model and it was originally made only for my own use. However, it already works quite well and the spool rotates much more smoothly than on the stock holder. I have printed and tested it myself.

The construction uses several printed cylindrical rollers, a split cage, an outer rotating sleeve, and a removable end cap. Personally, I really enjoyed assembling all the parts into a single working mechanism.

You will need to print all of pinned .stl files (rollers will needed x10).

Current limitations

This is still an early version, so there are a few things that could be improved.

The outer sleeve could probably be made slightly longer. In the current version, some cardboard spools may not sit perfectly because of their width or edge shape.

The removable end cap may also need some tuning. Depending on your spool and your printer’s filament holder dimensions, you may want to adjust its diameter or decide not to use it at all. In the current design, the cap needs to be removed every time you replace the spool.

The model was made for my Geeetech M1 holder dimensions, so please check your printer before printing.

Printing notes

I recommend printing the parts in PETG.

PLA may also work for some parts, but PETG should be more suitable for the flexible and mechanical parts, especially the removable cap and retaining elements.

Good bed adhesion is important, especially for the long cylindrical rollers. During my first attempts, the rollers could detach from the bed while printing. I solved this by using FDM printing glue on the build plate.

The rollers are relatively small and long, so printing them slowly with good adhesion is recommended.

OpenSCAD

The model is designed in OpenSCAD and is intended to be adjustable. You can modify the main dimensions directly in the source file if your holder or spool dimensions are slightly different.

Status

This is the first public version of the model. It works well enough for my current use, but it is not a final or heavily optimized design.

I may improve this model over time if I find better dimensions or a more convenient way to handle different spool types.