Parametric Hex Spool (PHS)

Parametric Hex Spool (PHS) - Customizable Spool Organizer

This lightweight hex-pattern spool was created to make ribbon, thread, line, etc. storage flexible and size-accurate. It spawned from having too many ribbons and not enough organization! It’s fully parametric; adjust the geometry to match your exact material needs using the included .scad file or MakerWorld’s parametric model editor.

Customizable Parameters (current):

• Outer diameter of side plates
• Axle outer diameter
• Axle wall thickness
• Axle tolerance
• Axle cutout (boolean)
• Axle cutout width
• Spool width (inner distance between plates)
• Side-plate thickness
• Outer-ring width
• Hex-hole circumscribed diameter
• Hex-hole gap
• Axle overlap amount
• Notch width
• Notch height
• Facet count for circle smoothness

Assembly:
Print both halves and press firmly (sometimes very firmly) together. The notch design helps the parts lock securely. If you are unable push the sides together, you may experiment with increasing the “axle tol” value in the customization (small values, 0.05 - 0.2 should be enough). When we printed at 0.24mm with a 0.6mm nozzle, we found that an axle tol of 0.05 was enough to make a snug fit without the fear of breaking the part. 

Print Notes:

Potential First Layer Adhesion Issues: 

It is worth checking the preview of the first layer before printing. If the first layer prints the inner hexagon walls first with only one wall each, you may run into first layer adhesion issues. To fix this you can try a few things: 

1) Ensuring that your build plate is clean

2) Manual flow calibration for your filament

3) Slowing down the first layer speeds (this one may be the most powerful option)

Version History:

• v0.5 — 17 Feb 2026: Added safeguards to parameters to prevent broken rendering. 
• v0.4 — 14 Dec 2025: Fixed hex spacing in .scad file. Added two .3mf example collections with recommended print settings. 
• v0.3 — 12 Dec 2025: Included option for axle slot bridge to reduce flex when fitting parts together with an axle slot.
• v0.2 — 10 Dec 2025: Included option for axle slot. Note: including an axle notch max reduce the snugness of fit between the side.
• v0.1 — 8 Dec 2025: Included ‘axle tol’ parameter. 
• v0.0 — 8 Dec 2025: Initial release and parametric setup.

Credits / Inspiration:
Inspired by various open hex-pattern spool designs in the community. Attachment-mechanism inspiration thanks to Ben’s excellent model.