Filament spool with bearing or low friction

[qmaker 29]

I know several people have come up with different solutions for the spool holder. When I try to do extremely long prints I almost always end up with broken filament somewhere  during the print causing failure. If it were smaller print I sometimes measure out the amount of filament needed so that I can cut it loose from the main spool to cut down on drag etc..

My question is, whether there is a consensus or go to design for a spool holder that incorporates bearings or other method to help remedy this. 

Again, I realize there are several options out there. I was hoping someone could chime in with a design that seems to have  worked successfully for them or others.

Thanks,

[jsw 13]

This is not a design, but a comment.

 

I've had this issue, particularly when using the 3mm filament, when the spool is mostly empty and the spool is old and has been exposed to room air for a long time and has absorbed H2O and has become brittle.

 

I've found that drying the filament (~6 hours in the air fryer on dehydrate at 120F) cures the issue.

[qmaker 29]

Awesome Thanks JSW, in my case the filament is less than a week old, but I think that is great advice/idea either way. I think my main issue is that the tension becomes too great due to the filament getting itself into a bind or the spool creating too much tension by not turning freely. I will try out the air fryer trick as well. Thanks for your help.

[jsw 13]

Another way a bearing setup might be handy is for some of the spools that fit very loosely on the Ultimaker spool holder.

 

I've had a few brands (RepRapper is one) where during the print the spool will kind of tilt and suddenly re-orient itself with a very audible 'bang' which is annoying and disconcerting.

 

I did print an insert to reduce one brand of spool's hole down to something more sane, and it does help a bit.

[phantom 17]

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2974405

Exactly what you're thinking of

[jsw 13]

1 hour ago, phantom said:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2974405

Exactly what you're thinking of

 

For the 2, that should work, but not for the S series.

 

However, it looks like a good place to start, as the wheel has been invented.