Introduction

Don't throw away those empty Prusa spools! This mod transforms them into the perfect library for your filament swatches. It’s designed for makers who have outgrown the traditional "sample-on-a-ring" method and need something more professional and organized.

Feel free to modify the base design to fit your specific swatch dimensions and share your remixes with the community. Let’s see how you organize your lab!

• Designed specifically for Prusa NFC spools

• Up to 120 swatches per Spool

• Free to modify, remix, and share with the community

• No additional hardware required

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The Swatch Design

I focused on usability and clean looks. The swatches are not just simple plates; they are designed to be handled easily:

• Ergonomic Grip:
  Each card features integrated finger recesses, making them easy to grab and pull from the spool.

• Label-Ready:
  Choose the Label Version (“-LBL”) if you use a label maker. It features a dedicated 12mm (1/2") recessed groove to ensure your stickers sit straight.

• Stepped Version:
  Choose the Stepped Version (“-STP”) to visualize material opacity. The varying thicknesses allow you to see exactly how the filament behaves at different layer depths

• Fully Customizable:
  Want to add embossed text or a hole for a keychain? The design is yours to modify!

Print Settings

The swatches are designed for a 0.2mm layer height. Adhering to this setting is crucial for the LBL and STP versions to ensure that the features print as intended.

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The Spool Design

The assembly is completely toolless. You won’t need any screws, hardware or even to disassemble the spool. Everything is designed for a simple fit.

To support various printers I have included different versions for different bed sizes. Just choose the one that fits your setup.
A quick tip: Print the small segment first to verify the tolerances with your specific spool before committing to the full size components.

• "..._Swatch Magazine_60deg" fits small beds like the Voron v0 (120x120mm).

• "..._Swatch Magazine_120deg" fits almost every other common 3D printer.

Print List

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Assembly

1. Start by aligning the hex part of the swatch-magazine with the hexagonal holes in the spool. Use the Prusa logo as your reference point. It should sit right in the center of a four segment arrangement as shown in the pictures. Repeat this step for all parts on the top and bottom of the spool.

2. To lock everything in place, slide the securing ring halves between the swatch-magazines. These are designed with an interference fit to ensure they stay firmly wedged.
   A quick tip: Print the provided test piece first to check the fit. If it feels too loose or too tight for your specific spool, simply scale the height of the ring slightly up or down in your slicer.

3. Once your spool is fully assembled, you can slide the sample cards into the slots. They are held in place by a flexible mechanism.

   If the samples appear slightly tilted, it is likely because the two spool halves have a small amount of play and are twisted. Simply rotate the halves against each other in the opposite direction to align everything perfectly.

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Update Log

• 27.04.2026 - Upload (V1)

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Special Thanks

I want to give a huge shoutout to the team at KeebSupply for supporting this project and providing the high-quality photos. The keyboard you see in the second picture is also one of their designs. Make sure to check them out!