Wire spools & dispenser

Wire Spools & Dispenser  Created By Joshua Bryant

     This was a project that I've always wanted to do since getting my first network cabling box and seeing it dispense wire without having to hassle with the spool. So I've created a spool and wire guide system to consolidate my messy box of wires. Most of which were just wrapped up with rubber bands and half tangled within themselves (we all know wire loves to mysteriously tie itself into knots). With this project I kept the following goals in mind.

• Low material usage (PLA)
• Easy assembly
• Use as little space as possible

     The original design had a clip-in system to assemble the two half's, but I found some engineering flaws that had me revert my design back to the "glue-&-assemble" method. The following resources are required for building and mounting this on a pegboard.

• IGES & STL files HERE [*Change orientation of parts appropriately; CSYS is not correct since this project was in an assembly]
• 3D Printer
• Hot glue gun
• Peg board hanger (a long one to hang the spools on)
• Small diameter clear plastic air hose (the ones you'ed use for a fish tank)
• Washers that fit on the peg board hanger

*NOTE: Qty & lengths depend on how many spools you print and how long the peg board holder is. See instructions below to get an understanding of how much material you will need.

     After printing the spools simply use a little hot glue to assemble the two half's together. Then just stick the wire in the stopper hole and begin winding up the spool with wire. It fits a little over 25' of 18AWG

     After your spools have been assembled and wound with wire its time to prepare the hanger for the spools. For each spool you have to cut a piece of air hose to a length slightly wider than the spool (~2mm wider [~1mm each side]). Then cut the segment down the length of the hose. The air hose will be wrapped over the hanger and it serves as a resistance to the inertia caused by pulling wire through the dispenser. Without it the spool would keep spinning thus unraveling on the holder.

     Now its time to assemble the spools on the hanger. The assembly will utilize the washers as separators for the spools. This keeps the spools from touching each other and prevents them from unwinding one another.

     Assembly Instructions: Place the hanger on the pegboard in the desired location; make sure to leave enough room for the wire dispenser below it

1. Wrap hose segment on the hanger
2. Slide the spool onto the hanger
3. Slide washer on
4. Continue this process until you can't fit anymore spools

     Once the hanger is completed simply mount the dispenser below the spools with either zip ties or fasteners. Then just feed the wire through and enjoy tangle free wire consolidation.

Donate 25¢ to help me keep creating