Update on 3D Printing Filament Spool Standard

Hello Everyone,

Here is an update and release of the universal 3D Printing Filament Spool Standard.

The Idea was first discussed and proposed here in March 2014, the draft standard has now been produced for comment and further discussion. It's available for download from the 3D Printing Association and Youmagine.

If you wish to discuss, comment or ask questions about the standard, a Youmagine page also contains the standard and can accommodate any drawings, model files or tooling information as required.

To get you up-to-speed quickly take a look at the original blog post here, and also view my update video on Youtube or below.

The discussion thread on the RepRap Forum is also still alive and active if you prefer to keep that discussion going.

The document standard is - Document Number - 88-22963-1 (Issue 1) 25th November 2014

The 3D Printing Association is supporting this project and also looking for feedback and implementation from filament manufacturers and everyone in the 3D Printing community, please get involved if you can.

 Expanded Biofoam (PLA based) half-spool - can be rotated together to form a Filament spool.

Dimensions are outlined in the spool standard along with suggested deviations.

Space reduction was an important factor for the spools, both is shipping weight and the volume of space the take up while in storage before being used to hold 3D Printing filament.

The idea of a standard filament spool size and compatible mechanical mounting dimensions will only be a reality of filament manufacturers decide to work with the standard and help make it a success.

At the moment still more spool types, sizes and mounting methods just keep on being introduced without any common standard or general compatibility with existing or future 3D Printers.

Thanks for reading, and a special thank you to all of you who got involved in this and spared time to talk to me, I really appreciate it.

The 3D Printing community thanks you all.

Rich.

It's 3D Printing Show Season in the UK again

Hello everyone,

This is a short holding post for now, I'll update it with further details about the two very special UK 3D printing consumer/trade shows coming up over the next few months.

3D printing is constant, and shows are going all around the world, almost all the time. This last year we have seen an explosion of events, conferences and shows. We are really lucky to have two very big 3D Printing shows in the UK during September and October.

I will be at both shows for the entire duration, do try to make them if you can, and if you would like to talk to me about 3D printing or anything else, let me know in the comment or send me an e-mail or message @RichRap3D - I would be really pleased to meet up with more of you.

Also if there is anything you want me to check out, research or investigate at the shows, just let me know.

The 3DPrintshow running from the 4th - 6th September in London - Further details about the event are here. 

And also the TCTShow running from the 30th September - 2nd October at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre -Register and find out more here

- Also more development updates coming very soon - 

Universal Pellet Extruder - I'm releasing my work-to-date on a RepRap Pellet / Granular Extruder as an Open Source Community project. I'll update with a video, details, design's and files, all very soon. Really excited about this one :) as you can imagine.

And also lots of you have been asking, so a new post on the Universal Filament spool standard I proposed back in March. I'll update you with all the best discussions I had with manufacturers and users, and also further details about the specification.

See you soon,

Rich.