Hardware hackers tend to have loads of hookup wire, and that led [firstgizmo] to design a 3D printable wire and cable spool storage system. As a bonus, it’s Gridfinity-compatible!
There are a lot of little design touches we love. For example, we like the little notch into which the wire ends are held, which provides a way to secure the loose ends without any moving parts. Also, while at first glance these holders look like something that goes together with a few screws, they actually require no additional hardware and can be assembled entirely with printed parts. But should one wish to do so, [firstgizmo] has an alternate design that goes together with some M3 bolts instead.
Want to adjust something? The STEP files are included, which we always love to see because it makes modifications to the models so much more accessible. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is that making engineering-type adjustments to STL files is awful, at best.
If there is one gotcha, it is that one must remove wire from their old spools and re-wind onto the new to use this system. However, [firstgizmo] tries to make that as easy as possible by providing two tools to make re-spooling easier: one for hand-cranking, and one for using a hand drill to do the work for you.
It’s a very thoughtful design, and as mentioned, can also be used with the Gridfinity system, which seems to open organizational floodgates in most people’s minds. Most of us are pinched for storage space, and small improvements in space-saving really, really add up.
Must… build…
Me too, this is a great idea. The only change I’d make is to make it so you can snap them into DIN rail.
Of course scope creep says why not integrate with Home Assistant so you can just ask for the wire you want in the length you want and it spins it out, cuts it off and drops it on the floor. That would actually be a really fun design exercise.
Strips too. Tins as well, unless for screw down terminals.
Personally I have a junk wire bin of useful pickings and recycling. Some were un-soldered and ready to go even Teflon coated, never bought anything but speaker and audio wire in lengths. One jacketed cable I see front of me on a Samsung TV has the BBROYGBVGW (bad boys…) rainbow of colors.
It should also support crimping for most common connectors.
Looks nice, and obviously a fair amount of work went into the design. Kudos.
But too bad, it won’t work for me.
Looking around my shop I see at least 25 spools of wire, ranging from 40 AWG to 4 AWG, single conductor to 25, diameter a few mils to almost an inch, and in lengths from a feet feet to a few hundred.
This respooling project would accommodate the wire from about three of those spools.
And, well, the wire is already spooled…
I can see they could make pretty props for a youtube channel though.
Cool idea, I guess. Seems like more work than it’s worth. I just keep my reels on a dowel and 3D printed stand, or leave them in the boxes and pull through holes in said boxes.
I’m not about to spend days printing these, then hours and hours re-spooling all my wire. But, if it works for you, that’s great.
Do both.
Punch dowel holes in the side of the boxes and put them on the dowel with the others.
Solved this a long time ago. Wire reels have a convenient 0.75″ hole.
With 1/2″ EMT conduit ( OD of ~0.71″) and 1/2 conduit brackets, screw brackets to wall or ceiling, ends dangle and cut what’s needed. Conduit slides nicely in-out of brackets to add or replenish spools.
I am printing them now… these look really cool. Thanks for taking the time to put this together!
I honestly appreciate it!
I just started…
Ok. One is done, with the two narrower spools. It’s just the thing, so I’m making at least three more, which should be enough to get organised. A bit.