Free-spinning Cable/Cord Winder - Print in Place by chug

chug

Tools>Organizers

IP Report

Print Profile(3)

All

X1 Carbon

P1S

P1P

X1E

A1 mini

H2D

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill w/ adaptive layers

Designer

3.2 h

1 plate

4.9(61)

Larger Clearances - 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Designer

3 h

1 plate

5.0(6)

Supersized! - 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 20% infill

Designer

5.2 h

1 plate

5.0(3)

Open in Bambu Studio

Boost

1273

2377

154

110

1.2 k

625

Released

Description

Updated! - (Mar 27, 2025) - The people have spoken and they demanded a larger version. Check out the "Supersized!" profile for a new model that includes a larger handle, larger crank and can fit wider spools. This has been, by far, the biggest complaint about the original design, so I hope people find this helpful. I don't have any spools this large so if it needs some tweaks, please just let me know instead of bombing me with bad reviews.

Convert your empty cardboard filament spool into a handy, free-spinning, cable/cord/wire/rope/whatever winder! After a few days of tinkering and refining, I decided it was time to call it “good enough” and share the files.

Features:

Free-spinning design!
Print-in-place design with no supports!
Optional, removable, handle to hold it steady while you spin it!
Includes handy clip to keep your cable/cord/wire/rope in place to help get it started!
Don't tell anyone, but it'll also work with plastic spools!

It's pretty straight-forward but I attempted to make an assembly video:

Thanks for checking it out!

Comment & Rating (154)

@PALMTR33

Boosted

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill w/ adaptive layers

excellent

@Yopurinta

Boosted

Hi! Do you know how long and thick the cable on your picture is?

@PALMTR33

Boosted

Replying to @Yopurinta :

I think it’s a 10ft standard extension cable from Home Depot.

@Yopurinta

Boosted

Thank you for the quick response! 👍

@Ditorious

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill w/ adaptive layers

used last of rolls and it still turned out great.

@chugalug

Thanks for checking it out!

@rs2112

Good print, but the handle broke in the first try. PETG

The designer has replied

@chugalug

Looks like it might be a layer adhesion issue. What were you trying to wind up? I just intentionally tried the break the handles on some of my prototypes (in PLA) and it took A LOT of force (more than one would expect when winding a short extension cord or some rope).

@rs2112

Replying to @chugalug :

Hello, It was my first try. Empty spool.

@chugalug

If the pieces weren't rotating freely, try the model with larger clearance. Otherwise, that's the first time I've heard of anything like this. Like I said, it took A LOT of force to break my prototypes.

@Dropbear

Boosted

Print Profile

Supersized! - 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 20% infill

Perfect profile the extra large fits many spools. The handle fits very loosely into the core though - it sometimes slips out with vigorous winding. It would be perfect with a liiiiiiiiiitle more friction fit👌 (A little sticky tape did it for me without having to reprint scaled up)

@chugalug

Thanks! When I first started designing models, I'd constantly tweak and refine dimensions and tolerances for the perfect fit. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that not everyone's printers perform the same and so I'd get angry/bad reviews from people whose models didn't work right. So now I'm stuck trying to find that balance and it looks like I missed the mark this time. If/when I update the model, I'll keep this in mind.

@crymsan

Print Profile

Supersized! - 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 20% infill

The print profile with the larger version worked great. Works on my wider spools and is beafier to handle cranking in long heavy items.

@chugalug

Thanks! Glad to hear it worked!

@NeroStivale

Print Profile

Larger Clearances - 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Perfect, except the filament retainer is too wide for Creality spools. I had no problems with other spools

Show original

@ati38

Print Profile

Larger Clearances - 0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Beautiful model

Show original

@user_215326814

Hello Well-designed, but I have a problem: the handle does not rotate independently, so when winding, it rotates with the mechanism

The designer has replied

Show original

@chugalug

Which handle are you talking about? The large flat one or the small round one?

@user_215326814

Replying to @chugalug :

The large one

@chugalug

Replying to @user_215326814 :

Does the small handle rotate or is it fixed in place? What printer and filament did you use? I'm working on another version of the model which has bigger gaps between the moving parts, but won't be able to post it for a few days.

@user_798800433

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill w/ adaptive layers

Awesome print! I printed on my A1 mini and it took a little over 3 hrs. Spins really nice... no sanding or carving off edges with debur tool. I'll use it at work for left over Cat6, Lutron wire and RG-6 low voltage. Works with cardboard Inland reels from Microcenter!

@chugalug

Thank you!

@ButchAndBraces

Boosted

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill w/ adaptive layers

Great design, thanks for sharing

@chugalug

Thank you!

License

This user content is licensed under a Standard Digital File License.

You shall not share, sub-license, sell, rent, host, transfer, or distribute in any way the digital or 3D printed versions of this object, nor any other derivative work of this object in its digital or physical format (including - but not limited to - remixes of this object, and hosting on other digital platforms). The objects may not be used without permission in any way whatsoever in which you charge money, or collect fees.