amslite rotary spool holder with auto rewind

ChangeLog

2025-03-17:

As noted in the comments, the central shaft's insertion into the AMS Lite frame was excessively large. This version's central shaft has been revised, incorporating reinforcing ribs to reduce the inner diameter. A hollow cylinder designed to further reduce the inner diameter is also provided; download the STL file as needed. This cylinder’s outer diameter is 0.3mm smaller than the original model's inner diameter, with an inner diameter of 18.4mm. For those who have already printed previous versions, consider printing this revised model or reprinting the central shaft component.

https://github.com/zjoycelee/amslite-rotary-spool/commit/0ac592bcbbbbcb52c93d99bbe0fcb26ac79a1365

AMSLite Rotary Shaft (with Auxiliary Claw System)

This project presents a printable rotary shaft model, including an optional auxiliary claw system, for 3D printers. The rotary shaft helps maintain filament tension during printing, reducing the likelihood of tangling and thus minimizing print failures.

Features and Advantages

1. Easy to Print & Print Optimized: This design is optimized for ease of printing, reducing the need for support structures. Sections requiring Z-axis reinforcement have been strategically separated; altering the print orientation yields enhanced strength.
2. Auxiliary Claw System: The design incorporates a flexible auxiliary claw system adaptable to various filament spool core diameters, enhancing stability and mitigating the risk of tangling. The auxiliary claw detaches from the housing and mounts to the primary claw, enabling compatibility with larger diameter spools, particularly those with wider core apertures (such as the Jayo brand). This modular system ensures superior stability and minimizes tangling, accommodating spools of varying dimensions.
3. Low Cost: Requires only 92 grams of filament, with hardware costs under 1 RMB.
4. Replaceable Components: All model components, except the claw assemblies, are replaceable with the original parts.

Required Hardware

This model requires two hardware components for proper operation:

1. Three-Wave Washer
   • Dimensions: 27mm x 34mm x 0.4mm
   • Height: 3.1mm
   • 
2. Torsion Spring
   • Wire Diameter: 0.8mm
   • Outer Diameter: 9mm
   • Number of Coils: 5
   • Rotation Direction: 180-degree left/right rotation
   • 

Preview - Rotary Shaft with Auxiliary Claw

Here are previews of the rotary shaft with the auxiliary claw system, including a color-coded diagram illustrating its various configurations.

• Original and Combined Configurations

  

• Exploded View

  

   

Dynamic Demonstration

Supports Standard Spool Core Diameters

The rotary shaft’s original configuration (auxiliary claw mounted on the housing) is suitable for most filament brands, such as Bambu and Tinmorry.
 

Supports Large Spool Core Diameters

The combined configuration (auxiliary claw mounted on the primary claw) is designed for spools with larger core diameters, such as the Jayo brand.
 

User Guide

1. Part Adhesive Assembly

1.1 Potential Part Separation and Adhesive Application Locations

When assembling the separately printed components, adhesive is required in certain areas to ensure a secure bond. Refer to the following sections for adhesive application locations.

Red areas in the diagrams indicate where adhesive should be applied.

1.1.1 Primary Claw Base

• Base and Clip: Apply adhesive to the contact surfaces of the primary claw base and clip to ensure a secure bond.

  

1.1.2 Green Core

• Clip Components: Apply adhesive to the clip sections of the green core to ensure secure fastening.
• Torsion Spring Center Fixation: Apply adhesive where the torsion spring center contacts the core to ensure secure attachment.

• Torsion Spring Short End Fixation: Apply adhesive where the torsion spring short end contacts the core for secure fastening.

  

1.1.3 Yellow Core

• Clip Components: Apply adhesive to the clip sections of the yellow core to ensure secure fastening.
• Torsion Spring Center Fixation: Apply adhesive where the torsion spring center contacts the core to ensure secure attachment.
• Torsion Spring Short End Fixation: Apply adhesive where the torsion spring short end contacts the core for secure fastening.

1.1.4 Central Shaft

• Circular Rod: Apply adhesive to the contact points of the central shaft’s circular rod and other connecting components.
• Top Washer and Torsion Spring Long End Fixation: Apply adhesive where the top washer contacts the torsion spring’s long end to ensure a secure connection.

1.2 Assembly Steps

1. Select Appropriate Adhesive: Use a strong adhesive suitable for plastics or 3D printed parts.
2. Apply Adhesive: Apply adhesive evenly to the indicated areas in the diagrams above.
3. Assemble Components: Quickly align and firmly press the adhesive-coated components together, ensuring a tight fit with no gaps.
4. Allow Adhesive to Cure: Allow the adhesive to cure according to the instructions on the packaging to ensure a strong bond.

1.3 Precautions

• Avoid applying excessive adhesive, as this may cause overflow, affecting appearance or weakening the bond.
• Use a quick-setting adhesive to minimize waiting time and improve assembly efficiency.
• Ensure all components are completely cool before assembly to allow for complete adhesive curing.
• Always work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling adhesive fumes.
• Use protective gloves to avoid direct contact with the adhesive, preventing allergic reactions or skin irritation.
• Use a protective mat or scrap paper to prevent adhesive spills from staining the work surface or other components.

2. Grease Application Locations

Proper lubrication helps ensure smooth operation of the components, reducing friction and wear. Refer to the following sections for grease application locations:

• Apply grease to the contact points between the core and the central shaft to ensure smooth torsion spring operation.
• Apply a moderate amount of grease to the two circular discs where the central shaft contacts the housing to reduce friction.

Blue areas in the diagrams indicate where grease should be applied.

2.1 Central Shaft

The following diagram shows where to apply grease to the central shaft. Apply grease evenly to reduce friction and ensure smooth rotation:

3. Torsion Spring Bending Jig Usage

A torsion spring bending jig can be used to create appropriately shaped torsion springs. Here are the steps for using the torsion spring bending jig:

1. Print configurations for the bending templates are provided; select the appropriate plate based on the spring’s desired orientation.
2. Prepare the wire for bending and place it in the designated slot on the jig.
3. Use an appropriate tool to apply force, bending the wire beyond 90 degrees.
4. Cut off the excess wire.
5. Continue applying force, bending the wire to nearly 180 degrees.
6. Remove the spring from the jig and adjust its shape with pliers.

4. Rotary Shaft Installation

Assuming that parts printed separately have already been assembled using adhesive.

4.1 Prepared Printed Parts

Numbers in the image:

1. Housing
2. Central Shaft
3. Green Core (choose green or yellow as needed)
4. Shaft Cap
5. Base
6. Washer (default 1.2mm thickness, various thicknesses provided)
7. Primary Claw Base (*3)
8. Primary Claw with Auxiliary Claw Mounting Slot (*3)
9. Auxiliary Claw Base (0 / *3)
10. Auxiliary Claw (0 / *3) Auxiliary claws are optional; therefore, the quantity is 0 or 3

4.2 Prepared Hardware

1. Bent torsion spring
2. Three-wave washer

4.3 Installation Steps

1. Assemble the claw base and claw in the correct order and orientation.

   The primary claw base has a small internal protrusion; note the installation direction. Push the primary claw into the claw base; the allowance should allow the claw to be secured in the claw base. If loose, the model has pre-drilled M1.6 screw holes; use M1.6*5 countersunk screws to secure them.

   

   Push the auxiliary claw in flat as shown in the diagram and then pull down.

   

2. Insert the green/yellow core into the central shaft (apply grease to the corresponding locations).

3. Secure the torsion spring; using the green core as an example:

   

4. Install the shaft cap, aligning it with the slot. After pressing down the shaft cap, rotate it to the right.

   

5. Insert the central shaft into the housing (apply grease to the corresponding locations).

6. Place the washer and then the three-wave washer into the base.

   

7. Align the recess at the bottom of the housing with the protrusion on the base; press down on the housing and then rotate it to the right.

   

8. Install the primary claw into the corresponding large slot on the housing.

   

9. Install the auxiliary claw into the corresponding small slot on the housing (optional).

   

Design Process

The design of this rotary shaft emphasizes the precise matching and coordination of each component, ensuring all parts are easily printable, maintain good strength, and support filament spools of varying diameters.

1. Core Components (Green and Yellow Versions)

Obtained via original part measurement; can be used as original part replacements. The core components are the heart of the rotary shaft, designed with rotation direction in mind. Green and yellow versions offer different options to suit users' varied feed direction requirements.

For enhanced Z-axis strength and ease of printing, the core has been designed with separated components.

2. Central Shaft Design

Obtained via original part measurement; can be used as original part replacements. The central shaft connects the core to the base and housing, ensuring smooth rotation.

Considering the Z-axis strength and ease of printing, the central shaft has also been designed with separated components.

3. Shaft Cap Design

Obtained via original part measurement; can be used as original part replacements.

4. Base Design

Obtained via original part measurement; can be used as original part replacements. Because the original metal spring clip lacks a universal solution, we've used a three-wave washer. Therefore, the base model differs slightly from the original. To achieve the appropriate frictional force, washers of varying thicknesses are provided for user adjustment.

If the appropriate pressure is uncertain, print washers of different thicknesses for combination testing. For instance, you could print 0.2mm, 0.4mm, and 0.8mm thick washers, yielding seven different thicknesses (0.2mm, 0.4mm, 0.6mm, 0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm, 1.4mm) through combination.

5. Primary Claw Base Design

Obtained via original part measurement; can be used as original part replacements. The original claw uses a C-shaped spring clip, but lacks a universal solution; hence the use of a Z-shaped spring structure. To ensure a secure connection between the claw and claw base, M1.6 countersunk screw holes have been added.

To increase Z-axis strength, the claw base panel has been thickened, and the clasp has been separated into components.

6. Primary Claw Design

The primary claw’s shape is obtained via original part measurement, ensuring the upper end rests on the housing edge, and the lower end's distance from the housing is verified by measurement. In the original, pressing causes the tail end to rub against the base; the model's tail end length has been slightly reduced.

To provide similar deformation capabilities to the original, a Z-shaped spring structure is employed, with the connection position using a rotating circular path to cooperate with the inner edge of the claw base.

Additionally, to support the auxiliary claw system, two square slots have been added to the primary claw, inspired by pegboard principles.

7. Auxiliary Claw and Auxiliary Claw Base Design

The auxiliary claw is designed to support larger diameter filament spools, requiring quick detachment and support for two configurations. The auxiliary claw uses a Z-shaped spring structure, similar to the primary claw's connection, using a rotating path to interface with the inner edge of the claw base.

The auxiliary claw base design borrows from pegboard principles; the hook-style clasp allows for quick detachment. To increase the connection strength between the auxiliary claw base and the housing, a support plate has been added to the back of the auxiliary claw base to address connection instability caused by deformation.

Design Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Ensuring Print Strength

Due to the nature of 3D printing, Z-axis strength is significantly lower than XY-axis strength. To ensure high-strength rotary shafts, component separation and print orientation optimization were implemented, thereby enhancing Z-axis strength.

Challenge 2: Supporting Different Spool Sizes

To address the challenge of supporting spools of varying diameters, an auxiliary claw system was designed. Auxiliary claws can be printed as needed and quickly detached from the housing and attached to the primary claw, ensuring the rotary shaft accommodates filament spools of diverse dimensions.

I have also created other models in this rotary shaft series; please feel free to explore them:

amslite rotary spool holder relevant models	pictures	cn-link	global-link
BambuStyle Rotary Spool Holder		https://makerworld.com.cn/zh/models/839089#profileId-824478	https://makerworld.com/en/models/996580#profileId-973060
Universal Rotary Spool Holder		https://makerworld.com.cn/zh/my/models/878953/	https://makerworld.com/en/models/1040576#profileId-1025386
amslite rotary spool holder cap with numbers	amslite Turntable Rack spool rotary rotary spool spool holder amslite spool rotary spool holder rewind Spool Rack Installation bmcu yba Comment & Rating (106) Add Photo (0/1000) Post All ​ TopMost LikesNewest FirstMost Replies @dennis.paus The printing went perfectly and the concept seems really promising. I only have the following problems: Firstly, I'm not sure if I've positioned the spring correctly (see image). Unfortunately, I couldn't get the spring with a 180° angle, so I had to use one with a 360° angle instead. Another problem concerns the concept itself. With my setup, only the housing rotates around the central shaft. This means that the spring is not involved. I made an adapter for the yellow core inside the central shaft. Only this, together with the central shaft, would cause the spring to function as desired. What am I doing wrong? The designer has replied 0 Reply @zjoycelee Hi, apologies for the delayed response. I've reviewed your diagrams. Regarding your first question: I haven't tested a 360-degree torsion spring, but based on my understanding of its operational principles, your installation has two issues. First, the position where the torsion spring is secured to the yellow core needs adjustment. Without modification, the rotational angle will be severely limited. Second, the fastening point on the central shaft should be on the opposite side. I've sketched a diagram; I hope it's clear. Concerning your second question, I may have misunderstood, but the operational principle of the rotating shaft is indeed that the fixed position connects to the core. During spool rotation, the core initially remains stationary while the central shaft rotates with the housing (the friction provided by the wave peak gasket currently causes the external central shaft to act as a single unit). During this process, the torsion spring deforms. Once the core's limit is reached, the spool continues to rotate. This force exceeds the friction, causing the central shaft core position to remain fixed while the housing begins to rotate. Does this address your query? Show original 0 Reply @dennis.paus Replying to @zjoycelee : No problem. I appreciate you responding at all. It's very difficult to find this type of torsion spring here in Germany. But I've finally ordered some more, which I hope will be 180° and, above all, fit in terms of dimensions. But do I now have the correct positioning of the spring and the core, which is green here but is the yellow one from the instructions, as shown in the attached picture? Regarding my second question: I think I overlooked the point of the rubber sealing ring. That's what connects the housing and the central shaft during rotation, right? Couldn't they have chosen a different type of connection? 0 Reply @dennis.paus Replying to @dennis.paus : Hie it is me again. If the core is positioned as shown in the attached image, you still have the full rotational movement as in my first image, only in the opposite direction. In this case, you could also use a spring with a 270 or 360° position, right? Or would the reversed direction make it difficult to handle? 0 Reply View 8 more replies @Greg_Seo Boosted Hello What is the inner diameter size of the torsion spring I need to select 3 purchase options 2 of them are in the description but one is missing Which one should I choose in the attached photo The designer has replied Show original 0 Reply @zjoycelee The last two options are correct What does the first option 7.2mm refer to 180 degrees is fine Also missing the number of turns, it should be 5 turns Show original 0 Reply @Greg_Seo Boosted Replying to @zjoycelee : I checked before replying as there was no 5-rotation marking The part labeled 7.2mm, when 7.2 is divided by 0.8, gives the number of rotations Therefore, I couldn't find a component with 5 rotations I purchased the 4.8mm component, which has 6 rotations I believe I can somehow compensate for the approximately 0.8mm size difference (Edited) Show original 0 Reply @zjoycelee Replying to @Greg_Seo : Oh, I see, 7.2mm is the thickness. If it's six turns, a 0.7mm wire diameter might be better If the number of turns increases, the spring will be stiffer, requiring more gripping force from the extruder. It would be better to appropriately reduce the wire diameter Show original 0 Reply View 2 more replies @PatrickGER Boosted Print Profile All in one plate, one-pot output These cost-effective printable spool holders are the foundation of my dry boxes Now I can print directly from the dry box inexpensively without constantly swapping spools because I only have four spool holders Show original 3 Reply @yeap.joshua How do you bend the spring for the yellow core? My springs seem to only fit the left jig and not the right one? The designer has replied 0 Reply @zjoycelee You have purchased right-hand torsion springs. Left-hand torsion springs are designed for left-side molds. It works better to use the spring with the matching rotation direction. However, using springs of the same rotation direction for both the yellow and green parts is also acceptable. 0 Reply @user_668157319 Boosted Print Profile All in one plate, one-pot output Thank you for creating something like this, the rotary coil holder is really very helpful The profile uploader has replied Show original 0 Reply @zjoycelee Thank you for your appreciation Friendly reminder If used for tpu 85a do not use this bracket or do not install the torsion spring and shrapnel 85a needs a low-resistance bracket 🤔 Show original 0 Reply @rorickmo Boosted sensational! very functional, this one deserved to be boosted, congratulations! I struggled a bit to assemble it, but based on the original I managed and the photos here from the profile also helped, I haven't installed the spring yet but it's working very well on the A1 mini adaptation. A tip, I made almost everything in PETG, I only used PLA for the larger body because it didn't work out in PETG. This adaptation is the green one from the AMS. thank you for sharing The designer has replied Show original 0 Reply @zjoycelee Thanks, the picture shows the lid is not installed correctly It should be flush with the housing, of course, it's possible you haven't installed the spring yet, so you haven't installed the lid (just a reminder in case 👍 Show original 1 Reply @PatrickGER Boosted Print Profile debug The hollow lid is practical with the first printed spool Thereafter one gets a feel for it Show original 1 Reply @PatrickGER Boosted These cost-effective printable spool holders are the foundation of my dry boxes Now I can print directly from the dry box inexpensively without constantly swapping spools because I only have four spool holders Show original 1 Reply @user_13642219 Print Profile Others I havr tried many time now printing the spring holder and each ntime I print them the two little tabs that are to hold the spool holder on to the shaft of the AMS light. I have printrd them in PLA, PETG-HF,and PETG-CF. The tabs break off when installled onto the AMS lite, The profile uploader has replied 0 Reply @zjoycelee The integrated version is indeed not strong enough due to the longitudinal direction, which is why I have provided the split version in my main configuration, print the small snap fastener lying down, you should try that version, it only needs a little super glue 😃 Show original 0 Reply @user_13642219 Replying to @zjoycelee : I’m sorry, but I do not read Chinese and do not know what you are saying? 0 Reply @zjoycelee Replying to @user_13642219 : Sorry about that! I thought the website would automatically translate my comments into English. The single-piece version isn’t very sturdy due to its vertical structure. That’s why I provided the split version as the main configuration. Print the small clips in a laid-down orientation and assemble them—you should try this version instead. It only needs a tiny bit of glue. 😊 0 Reply View 2 more replies @Lucky420 Print Profile Others 1 Reply 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. Related Models Cell Spool Winder Sergiu 78.4 k 23.7 k Bambu Spool Bambu Lab 143.9 k 19.4 k Filament Auto-rewinder spool holder for AMS Mad Man Racing 293 192 Sunlu AMS lite adapter BRADCAD 39 k 6.2 k