Filament Rack Using 15mm Pipe

I needed a filament rack and had some pipe sitting around so designed this to help serve a purpose in the print room.

To print and assemble this you will need:

• 15mm outside diameter, 13mm inside diameter pipe. You need 3x the length of what the width of your rack will be, as 3 pipes are required to build it.
• A pipe cutter
• 6x M4x20mm screws and 6x M4 washers less than 10mm wide
• 6x M4 or 6x M4S Ruthex inserts and a soldering iron
• Allen key/hex wrench for the M4 screws
• A file and/or sharp pipe reamer

If you would like to view the 3D model in colour in your browser and with optional AR, this is available directly at the Shapr3D viewer here. This is useful as you can see how the parts should be oriented when assembling the rack.

Preparation Work

First measure the pipe as accurately as you can and mark it. You want each pipe to be no more than 1 -2mm +/- the length you want. Double check and make sure!

Cut the pipe to size with a pipe cutter. If you have a pipe reamer use it to clean the end of the pipe, then file the inner and outer edges at each end of the pipe so the cut edges are flush with the inside and outside surfaces. This is very important to make the expansion fittings go in.

Printing

Everything should be printed with a 0.4 nozzle or smaller.

The main bracket and support bracket can be a 0.2mm layer height, however all the other parts should be 0.16 layer height or smaller. This is so there is less friction inside the expansion fitting to allow it to move and work.

You can choose either the M4 or M4S inner fitting depending on what you have available or prefer.

Please be careful removing the breakable insert from the print bed, as you may break the tiny parts keeping each side together. Maybe print a few more just in case that happens.

Assembly

• Install the Ruthex inserts in the end of the inner fittings, as pictured above in the photos.
• Carefully put the inserts on the bracket, then the inner fitting on top one at a time, and put the screw/washer in the other side. Tighten up loosely so the insert does not expand, but enough so the indentations in each part line up inside each other.
• Insert the pipe into each fitting carefully, maybe you need to squeeze the insert a little to get it in. Wait before doing screws up.
• If you have printed one or more support brackets, slide one on now and put it in the middle-ish of the pipe. Now do screws up at the completed end.
• Add more support brackets have you have them.
• Do the same for the other end.