3 votes

Help me untangle my 3d printer filament

Posted by Markpelly
Tags: 3dprinting

I have probably a 1/4 of a roll of filament that slid off a roll when I swapped it between a Bambu reusable spool holder. It's been on my floor for a couple months and I have not found any way of getting this back onto a spool, either by trial and error or by finding a good resource online.

All the videos I see are people with tangles on spools, and this would be nice if I was in this situation but I am not.

Any time I try to do this it's just so challenging to get any sort of rhythm or easy process with our ruining the entire thing.

Any advice?

8 comments

  1. [2]
    Akir
    Link
    Yeah, don't do it again. :P In all seriousness, though, I'd print some mini spools and cut at places where it gets tangled. It's still inconvenient to need to change spools often, but it gets rid...

    Yeah, don't do it again. :P

    In all seriousness, though, I'd print some mini spools and cut at places where it gets tangled. It's still inconvenient to need to change spools often, but it gets rid of a lot of frustration now.

    2 votes
    1. Markpelly
      Link Parent
      I'm thinking of doing this for some small prints :(

      I'm thinking of doing this for some small prints :(

      1 vote
  2. [5]
    cfabbro
    Link
    Given the volume of loose filament, you probably aren't going to be able to fix it by hand. I haven't personally used one yet, but I imagine you're probably going to need a filament respooler....

    Given the volume of loose filament, you probably aren't going to be able to fix it by hand. I haven't personally used one yet, but I imagine you're probably going to need a filament respooler. E.g. https://makerworld.com/en/search/models?keyword=respooler&orderBy=boosts

    See also, this reddit post with a few specific respooler recommendations:
    https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1fia5mo/which_respooler_have_you_had_the_best_luck_with/

    1 vote
    1. [4]
      Markpelly
      Link Parent
      I did look into respoolers but the problem I have is I only make it 10inches before I hit a tangled mess. I'm wondering if I need a respooler and a drill to spin the filament as it goes on.

      I did look into respoolers but the problem I have is I only make it 10inches before I hit a tangled mess. I'm wondering if I need a respooler and a drill to spin the filament as it goes on.

      1 vote
      1. [3]
        cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Like I said, I haven't used one yet, so I could be wrong... But can you not just totally detach the filament from the original spool before respooling the now totally loose filament in order to...

        Like I said, I haven't used one yet, so I could be wrong... But can you not just totally detach the filament from the original spool before respooling the now totally loose filament in order to avoid that tangling issue?

        1. [2]
          Markpelly
          Link Parent
          The filament is detached and laying in a tangle on the floor, in a sad mess.

          The filament is detached and laying in a tangle on the floor, in a sad mess.

          1. cfabbro
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            I guess I'm failing to see the problem then. If filament is totally loose already then respooling it all should be pretty easy, shouldn't it? Unless you have a bunch of crazy complicated knots in...

            I guess I'm failing to see the problem then. If filament is totally loose already then respooling it all should be pretty easy, shouldn't it? Unless you have a bunch of crazy complicated knots in it that require serious work to get undone you can just find the other end of the filament and straighten it all out while respooling it to prevent further tangles.

  3. carsonc
    Link
    How about 3D printing an adapter for an egg beater to a filament spool? Then you can hook one end of the filament in, maybe keep tension with your other hand or foot and spool it in that way....

    How about 3D printing an adapter for an egg beater to a filament spool? Then you can hook one end of the filament in, maybe keep tension with your other hand or foot and spool it in that way.

    Would that work?