3D printing filament spooling is an important yet often overlooked part of 3D printing. It’s not usually something to be concerned about, as filament generally comes perfectly spooled right out of the box. Properly spooled filament is fundamental for a good 3D printing experience, to avoid under-printing, vibrations, mistakes, and more.
However, when filament tangles do happen, it can be a nightmare to put up with, and even more complicated to solve. But it doesn’t have to be! Here are some tips and tricks to prevent and solve filament tangles on the spool and make the most of your 3D printer.
Consequences of Filament Tangles
Filament tangle can be an annoying problem at best, and a hazardous problem at worst. Before looking at what causes it and how to solve it, let’s look at why it’s important to avoid it.
One expected result of a filament tangle is for the print to be interrupted if the extruder is unable to push the filament. This may be caused by a knot that’s preventing the roll from unspooling. This problem is a waste of time, electricity, and materials, and if you’re printing on a deadline, it could be costly.
It’s possible for a 3D printer to overcome small tangles on its own, but this isn’t without its own problems. It may still cause a lot of vibration in the printer and the print in turn, as the release of the tangle will cause the filament to swing back and forth if it’s hanging on the machine. It can also wear down motors and drivers since the motor will require more force to pull tangled filament.
If you use a custom spool holder (like the TUSH) and your filament is badly tangled, the machine can continue to pull and cause it to fall off, resulting in potentially dangerous accidents and damage.
Additionally, a filament tangle can cause other problems in your printer because once the filament stops being pushed through, the melted filament will stay inside the nozzle, eventually clogging it. By becoming stuck and not being unable to pull it, the extruder pulley may also eat into the filament and damage it.
Finally, if you decide to go ahead and print with tangled filament, you’ll have to watch the machine throughout its entire operation time to make sure nothing happens and to intervene with tangles near the extruder.
Causes
It’s rare that tangled filament is the manufacturer’s fault, as the winding process is performed by a machine. However, to prevent any issues, always inspect the state of your filament before opening the plastic wrapping. That way, if you notice something is wrong, you can contact the manufacturer and work it out.
However, even if your filament is correctly wound right off the spool, it may still become tangled later on due to improper use or storage. For example, when you take it off of the printer without maintaining tension, it can unwind and cause tangles. If you don’t keep it in a clear and clean space, filaments can tangle with each other or with other objects in the vicinity.
Tips to Prevent It
The best way to deal with filament tangle is to make sure it doesn’t happen. Therefore, here are some tips to keep your filament in good shape.
- Check the state of your filament before taking it out of the bag. This way, if you notice any tangles from the manufacturer, you can report the defect and avoid working with a faulty batch. A good way to check is to take a small section of the filament and run it through your hands to feel for any inconsistencies in the winding. There should be no bumps or knots in the filament.
- Store your filament properly. This means keeping it away from direct sunlight and moisture. Changes in temperature and humidity levels can have a negative impact on the filament, increasing the risk of tangling. You’ll also want to avoid storing your filament in a messy place, such as a toolbox. It may be a good idea to build or buy a filament rack, to keep your filaments orderly, dry, cool, and dust-free.
- Use the right accessories to keep the filament end taut and in place. Many useful accessories are 3D printable and offer good protection against tangles (more on this below).
Accessories
One of the simplest ways to avoid filament tangle is to print a simple accessory to keep it neatly in place on the spool. There are a few different designs: The best one for your setup will likely depend on how you store and use your filament. Here are some of our favorites!
Simple Filament Clip
This selection, along with all that follow, are universal filament clips. They are universal because they work on any filament brand, even though the spool shape may change according to the brand. In this case, it’s even more universal because instead of latching to the side of the spool, it latches onto the filament itself. It’s available in two sizes, for 1.75-mm and 3-mm filament widths.
- Who designed it? intofocus
- How printable/popular is it? This simple yet effective print has 180 makes. The creator recommends a layer height of 0.1 mm, and given the tiny size, it shouldn’t impact print time too much.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Dragon Clip
In this iteration of a filament holder, the creator designed a universal clip that can attach to the spool instead of the filament itself. It uses a corrugated pattern to grab onto the spool and uses the filament’s flexibility to snap onto it. It can hold both 3-mm or 1.75-mm diameter filaments thanks to its dragon head.
- Who designed it? Lyl3
- How printable/popular is it? 107 makes have been shared so far. The model’s flexibility makes it a versatile solution.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Spool Brace
In this case, the creator of this filament holder uses filament compliant properties to grip the filament. The way it works is that you fit the filament holder inside the spool and align the holes to fit the filament. Once you let go of it, the holder will try to regain its natural shape, like a spring, and that in itself will cause it to keep a grip on the filament.
- Who designed it? RobeenaShepherd
- How printable/popular is it? This model has two shared makes on Printables, one of which is pictured above. The creator says to measure the width of your spool and choose the model that’s the closest, always going over instead of under the width.
- Where to find it? Printables
Filament Tensioner
This simple print adds pressure to your spool to stop filament from jumping off the roll when feeding through the extruder-stepper. The two bars let the filament strand thread through the two bars to prevent tangles from occurring.
This remix from SpicyLimes features a polygon-style pattern that reduces filament usage and an extended base that attaches to the spool screw to allow more height for taller spool rolls.
- Who designed it? SpicyLimes (remixed from boffenheim)
- How printable/popular is it? This model has 1 shared make and over 10 downloads so far.
- Where to find it? Printables
Anti-Tangle Spool Holder
This final model is a spool holder designed to keep tangles at bay. The holder clamps around the spool at four different points, keeping it securely in place. It’s compatible with a wide variety of spool sizes, ranging from 145 mm to 210 mm in diameter.
When printing, you won’t need to worry about supports. However, you’ll need some screws, nuts, or bearings, depending on which version of the arms you print. The creator provides further information on the Thingiverse page.
- Who designed it? graham01
- How printable/popular is it? This popular model has a whopping 94 makes and 20 remixes. The remixes include versions for different spool sizes and functions, including one with a swivel base.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Tips to Solve It
If you can’t avoid it in time, or if you’re reading this article because the tangle has already happened and you want to know how to solve it, here are some tips.
- When fixing a tangle, don’t unwind large portions of the filament, and don’t unwind the filament completely because you may only end up with a bigger mess.
- If the tangle is too bad to fix, you may have to consider respooling the filament. Only try this after researching and if you’re confident you can pull it off.
- You do need to unwind the spool a bit to be able to untangle the filament, so make sure to keep tension at some point of the filament to prevent more from coming loose and aggravating the problem. You can do this simply by pressing down on a section of the spool.
- When untangling, be careful not to bend the filament, as sharp bends will damage the filament and make that section unusable. If your filament is brittle, it could even snap from too-rough handling!
