Build a mechanism to spool the unspooled filament so we buy in that form again

[goatchurchprime]

We have a lot of empty plastic spools leftover, and unspooled filament is much cheaper.

But winding unspooled filament onto an old spool is hard because the off coil gets all tangled, and the on spool twangs loose the moment you let go.

Turns out the same problem has been solved with yarn, using this trellis-style thing
https://www.thespruce.com/yarn-swift-and-ball-winder-2117221

You can get them very cheap, but it looks like a tensegrity thing that could be put together with rods and wires:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/990228-Hand-Operated-Yarn-Fiber-Wool-String-Thread-Skein-Ball-Winder-Stand/1374049461?iid=282070904686

If this filament swift works, it makes the filament winding a one-person job.

Or you can build a device for rewinding.
https://www.filastruder.com/products/filawinder

[ajlennon]

Thanks!

[ajlennon]

I am pretty sure I can't build this!

[ajlennon]

Taking my name off this as it looks far too hard for me and it might be better addressed with a notice along the lines @amcewen was telling me the other day as to how we should put the filament through the hole in the filament roll so it doesn't loosen up

[amcewen]

That's a separate issue - people should fasten up the filament on spools when they take it off the printer, but this is @goatchurchprime wanting us to be able to buy filament not-on-spools and put it onto spools ourselves, so that we don't end up with lots of empty waste spools.

Admittedly, the current 3D printing waste recycling box will take empty spools (and Arthur from Plastic Tastics might be able to recycle them too) but resuse would be better than recycling...

[RussCoty]

This seems like a motor to turn the empty reel and a linear actuated mounted hole to run it through might work.

I have motor drive linear pots and a motor driver pcb (arduino compatible) that I developed.

I could donate one with a motor driver IC and a linear motor pot, if someone has a a 168 or 328 to put on the board. I’m out of them.

The board can drive 2 motors so would be ideal and has plenty of IO pins.

[amcewen]

I've got a couple of 328s knocking around. Happy to donate one to the cause if someone wants to build it up...

[RussCoty]

For those following along we needed SMD 328/168s

I think I found one so I’ll bring that in with a board and motor fader.

[amcewen]

@RussCoty commented over on #1120:

There was a google thread on this but Github seems better for an open source design process.

So for the spool winder I’ve stared on a 3D laser cut box design. There’s a rough image here

I’ve donated an arduino compatible board with a motor driver that I make. This will drive a motor for the spool and a motor linear pot to select position. Anyone who wants to join the project let me know.

Should I host this in my own repo or here? Thoughts please.

[amcewen]

You're welcome to host it yourself if you'd prefer @RussCoty but creating a repo for it in the @DoESLiverpool would also be completely fine (and would mean you don't have to add any collaborators from the DoES community as they'd already be members of the organisation). I think you should have suitable permissions to create a new repo, but shout if you can't (and I'll see if I can fix that :-)

[RussCoty]

Ok cool I’ll try and start a repo for the project here on DoES. I think it could be useful for other Makerspaces etc. So I’ll leave it fully open source (apart from my board) I’ll include a open source version of my motor driver as an arduino shield in the repo too I guess

[DoESsean]

If a repo was created for this project, do we still need the open issues here?

Not a loaded question, by the way, I genuinely don't know how the crossover works and if having them here is better.

[RussCoty]

Not sure Sean, I’m just so busy at the moment it’s kind of taken a back seat