got a P2S and about 10 spools that just live stacked on the windowsill. no system at all, i just pile them up and dig through them every time i need a color.
wondering what you’d print to make that windowsill actually usable. some kind of spool rack or holder? drybox that doesnt eat the whole sill? drop model links if you have ones you actually printed and liked, id rather print something proven than gamble on makerworld.
pic of the current mess attached.
Best way is to get a cheap cabinet from IKEA and modify it with some filament racks.
If the sun is on that window to any extent I wouldn’t stack spools there due to solar UV possibly degrading the filament.
yeah thats where ill probably end up eventually. right now the sill is the only surface i have so im trying to make that work first.
did you go with a closed one and throw desiccant in, or is it open shelves? curious if closing it up actually does anything for humidity or if its mostly just tidier.
good shout, but ive got a blind on that window thats down most of the time, so UV shouldnt be much of an issue. radiator under the sill isnt running either, its summer here.
so mainly just need to sort out the stacking and the stuff thats not in bags. is a sealed box with desiccant enough at that scale, or do people actually bother with a proper dryer for 10 spools?
My A1Mini and the spools I gave it sit in front of a window. I made some simple round tubs with press-on lids out of primitives in the slicer to keep them in. Not air-tight by any means (PLA so not that much of a concern) but they’re enough to keep the sun and dust off.
modelling them straight in the slicer from primitives is smart, hadnt thought of that. no need to hunt for a model at all.
how much filament does one tub eat though? for 10 spools thats a lot of plastic spent on storing plastic. and does the lid stay on ok, or did you have to tune the fit a few times to get the press fit right?
I’d have to check when I get home, but not that much as I made them pretty thin. As to the fit, I’ve made a lot of that type of round and square boxes and have gotten good at guessing how much larger diameter to make the lid to get a good-enough fit.
There lots of models on Makerworld that are about the same thing but with a few more features (stand-up feet on one side, provisions for a desiccant box and a filament swatch on the side, etc) that I looked at before I made my simpler version.
Don’t you want to open the window every now and then to get some fresh air? Especially if you’re running a 3D printer in a living room?
If you still want to open the window from time to time, you’ll need something with handles so you can easily move everything to the side. Maybe even tiny wheel? But only on one side - two in total - otherwise it’ll roll right off.
Otherwise - just as people here have mentioned - I’d simply think about getting a cabinet. Check the local paper for garage sales, thrift shops, or one of those Goodwill‑type stores, whatever they’re called, where you can pick up a cabinet like for a dollar.
