Dingoboy's Folgertech FT-5 Overhead Spool Holder

Similar to some other FT-5 spool mounts, but with a couple of differences:

1. I designed a horizontal lip to hold the weight, rather than relying on the bolts & T-nuts to support all of the weight.
2. Chose to design this one to work with a 1" standard PVC pipe. (That's 1" ID, 36mm outer diameter) PVC pipes are light & they are usually cheaper to buy & easier to cut than metal rods.
3. Completely optional: I designed 2 different ring clamps to hold the pipe itself in place on the brackets & to hold the spool in place on the pipe.

All you NEED to print for this is the pair of brackets. They are designed to mount with the same M5x10mm bolts & M5 T-nuts that the FT-5 melamine parts mount with. I designed 5 mounting holes on the side of the bracket & 5 on the horizontal lip. I chose to use the horizontal lip, and found that 3 bolts were plenty. Brackets are firmly held in place.

The ring clamps can be used to hold the pipe on the brackets, and to hold the spool in place on the pipe.

I didn't want the pipe to vibrate off the brackets while printing. So I desgned the set-screw type rings to hold it firmly in place. You can use one on each end, 2 on each end, whatever works for you. I put 2 on one end, leaving a gap around the bracet, so I can tilt the pipe up from theo ther end without snapping anything. Ths left the other end open for easy spool swaps. The set-screw clamps each have 3 holes & nut traps to give you options: M3, M4, or M5 bolts and nuts can be used. Just press the nut into the appropritately sized trap with pliers.***DO NOT USE NYLOCK NUTS- they are too tall, and they will not let the clamp fit onto the PVC.

If, like me, you want your spool to stay in place during printing, I would print 2 of the spring clamps & slide them into place around the spool. They take a little force to slide onto the end of the pipe, since they are purposely undersized to provide the spring pressure. You can easily lift the spool over them to remove & replace, but they will slide by hand as well to accomodate different widths of spools.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer:

Rafts:

No

Supports:

Resolution:

.28mm

Infill:

Notes:

Printed on my Prusa MK2S because the FT-5 needs a part cooling fan installed. I used 5 perimeters/shells and 5 top & bottom layers, plus 40% infill for strength. Might be overkill, but the brackets feel solid.

I made my first prototypes in Makergeeks Raptor PLA, but then realized that was overkill (and expensive). The red brackets pictured use Makergeeks Maker Series (standard) PLA and feel plenty sturdy for the assigned task. You can choose HTPLA, PETG. ABS,ASA, etc. if you want more insurance against cracking or breaking, etc.

Category: 3D Printer Accessories