<p>One key difference between a 'masterspool' and any old spare empty reel you have left over is that the masterspool is a 2-part design which can be fitted over an existing roll of filament without needing to un-spool and re-spool the whole roll.</p>

<p>The idea being that filament can be packaged and secured for shipment (with cable ties or the like) without needing to include a whole spool every time. The end user can buy/print only as many spools as they need.</p>

<p>This concept also allows for 'extra' features to be included in the spool (such as retention for loose ends) without these features being wasted on every discarded spool.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T16:00:51.870Z
2018-08-07T16:00:51.870Z
Sean Houlihane
<p>A masterspool is the practice of printing your own spool out of filament, which will then be used to support your filament you purchase without a spool attached. The main idea is to create a reusable spool and create less waste. </p>

<p>(<em>NOTE: I'm in no way affiliated with MatterHackers.com, nor am I an endorser of their products.</em> There is also a version which <a href="https://www.villageplastics.com/the-filament-koil/" rel="noreferrer">Village Plastics</a> has created.)</p>

<p>On <a href="https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/tech-breakdown-the-master-spool" rel="noreferrer">MatterHackers.com</a> website, they state:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Filament without a spool? Why are we making this? The short answer: because the community wants it. We had enough questions, comments and plenty of tweets asking if we had plans to pick up the Master Spool concept. Seeing the response and interest within the community made it clear to us: we needed to bring this idea to the States. With a joint effort between MatterHackers and Village Plastics, you can now purchase Master Spool refills from within the US.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>They are tying to apply the <em>Reduce, Reuse, Recycle</em> mantra to create a cleaner environment for the rest of the world. While they are not the first to create or use a printable spool, they are pretty happy to be pressing forward with the idea of having a reusable spool and selling filament without a spool attached.</p>

<p>MatterHackers go on to state:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What are the benefits of the Master Spool? Not only is there the  benefit of reducing plastic waste, using a Master Spool will also reduces shipping costs for new spools, and limits the clutter from amassing of a huge collection of used or empty spools. Rather than throwing away, trying to recycle dozens of spools, or trying to come up with a way to reuse them in some (like the Spool Tool), using the Master Spool means you can use all those filament scraps you have laying around on something useful and have one spool for all of your filament.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As far as where it started, it appears to have originated with <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1738730" rel="noreferrer">this print on Thiniverse</a> created by <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/Dingoboy71/about" rel="noreferrer">Dingoboy71</a>. A well known 3D printer named <em>RichRap</em> created the reusable spool which MatterHacker promotes, though they say there are several which will work with their product (Village Plastic says pretty much the same). </p>

<p>If you get excited about saving the planet, then you should be excited about this. If you are a robust printer, going through tons (hopefully not literally) of filament per year, this method will save a lot of waste in the long run.</p>

<p>Realize there are (as of this writ) only limited suppliers of spool-less filament, though I think the trend for this type of product will increase in the future as the idea catches on. I guess time will tell. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-08T01:12:24.243Z
Are any manufacturers shipping filament inside masterspools? Thinking something like eSUN's bolted together spools only with compliant dimensions.
Yet Another User
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T15:35:05.453Z
2018-08-07T16:23:36.987Z
2018-08-07T16:23:36.987Z
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
<p>Recently, I have heard people talking about masterspool, when talking about 3D printing filament.</p>

<ul>
<li>What <em>exactly</em> is master spool?</li>
<li>Where did the idea come from and when?</li>
<li>Is it being widely adopted? Or to be specific, how many distributors/manufacturers have adopted this already, and is it gaining traction?</li>
<li><strike>Is this something that I should get excited by?</strike></li>
<li><strike>If so, why is it such a good idea?</strike></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T15:10:15.640Z
This question would be better answered by a google search. [See here](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/237047/should-i-search-on-internet-before-asking-question) for a relevant meta discussion. Your question is also quite broad, asking about a range of subjects (some being quite opinion-based).
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T15:27:46.210Z
Good point(s). After a google I found this [Thingiverse - MasterSpool](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2769823), which then led to this blog, [MasterSpool - A proposed standard for 3D Printing filament supply without a spool](https://richrap.blogspot.com/2018/01/masterspool-proposed-standard-for-3d.html) which seems to answer everything. Vote to close?
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T15:54:49.987Z
I think the question is basically OK, but the last 3 bullets particularly are very much opinion based.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T15:59:54.827Z
@SeanHoulihane - I certainly agree that the last two points are shaky. The third is sort of relevant, because if the industry doesn't take it up then it will die a death, so maybe I should re-word it. NB I only asked this question as I saw you talking about it in chat and I had no idea what you were talking about...
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-07T20:55:52.173Z
My local filament manufacturer offers tailings in a masterspool format for free, while the spooled versions are a bit more expensive.
W5VO
<filament>
What is a masterspool?
Greenonline
# What is a masterspool?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-07)

Recently, I have heard people talking about masterspool, when talking about 3D printing filament.

* What *exactly* is master spool?
* Where did the idea come from and when?
* Is it being widely adopted? Or to be specific, how many distributors/manufacturers have adopted this already, and is it gaining traction?
* Is this something that I should get excited by?
* If so, why is it such a good idea?

**Tags:** filament

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This question would be better answered by a google search. [See here](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/237047/should-i-search-on-internet-before-asking-question) for a relevant meta discussion. Your question is also quite broad, asking about a range of subjects (some being quite opinion-based).  
> **username_0**: Good point(s). After a google I found this [Thingiverse - MasterSpool](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2769823), which then led to this blog, [MasterSpool - A proposed standard for 3D Printing filament supply without a spool](https://richrap.blogspot.com/2018/01/masterspool-proposed-standard-for-3d.html) which seems to answer everything. Vote to close?  
> **username_2**: I think the question is basically OK, but the last 3 bullets particularly are very much opinion based.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 - I certainly agree that the last two points are shaky. The third is sort of relevant, because if the industry doesn't take it up then it will die a death, so maybe I should re-word it. NB I only asked this question as I saw you talking about it in chat and I had no idea what you were talking about...  
> **username_3**: My local filament manufacturer offers tailings in a masterspool format for free, while the spooled versions are a bit more expensive.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-08-07. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

A masterspool is the practice of printing your own spool out of filament, which will then be used to support your filament you purchase without a spool attached. The main idea is to create a reusable spool and create less waste.

(*NOTE: I'm in no way affiliated with MatterHackers.com, nor am I an endorser of their products.* There is also a version which [Village Plastics](https://www.villageplastics.com/the-filament-koil/) has created.)

On [MatterHackers.com](https://www.matterhackers.com/articles/tech-breakdown-the-master-spool) website, they state:

> Filament without a spool? Why are we making this? The short answer: because the community wants it. We had enough questions, comments and plenty of tweets asking if we had plans to pick up the Master Spool concept. Seeing the response and interest within the community made it clear to us: we needed to bring this idea to the States. With a joint effort between MatterHackers and Village Plastics, you can now purchase Master Spool refills from within the US.

They are tying to apply the *Reduce, Reuse, Recycle* mantra to create a cleaner environment for the rest of the world. While they are not the first to create or use a printable spool, they are pretty happy to be pressing forward with the idea of having a reusable spool and selling filament without a spool attached.

MatterHackers go on to state:

> What are the benefits of the Master Spool? Not only is there the benefit of reducing plastic waste, using a Master Spool will also reduces shipping costs for new spools, and limits the clutter from amassing of a huge collection of used or empty spools. Rather than throwing away, trying to recycle dozens of spools, or trying to come up with a way to reuse them in some (like the Spool Tool), using the Master Spool means you can use all those filament scraps you have laying around on something useful and have one spool for all of your filament.

As far as where it started, it appears to have originated with [this print on Thiniverse](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1738730) created by [Dingoboy71](https://www.thingiverse.com/Dingoboy71/about). A well known 3D printer named *RichRap* created the reusable spool which MatterHacker promotes, though they say there are several which will work with their product (Village Plastic says pretty much the same).

If you get excited about saving the planet, then you should be excited about this. If you are a robust printer, going through tons (hopefully not literally) of filament per year, this method will save a lot of waste in the long run.

Realize there are (as of this writ) only limited suppliers of spool-less filament, though I think the trend for this type of product will increase in the future as the idea catches on. I guess time will tell.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Are any manufacturers shipping filament inside masterspools? Thinking something like eSUN's bolted together spools only with compliant dimensions.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-08-07. Score: 4

One key difference between a 'masterspool' and any old spare empty reel you have left over is that the masterspool is a 2-part design which can be fitted over an existing roll of filament without needing to un-spool and re-spool the whole roll.

The idea being that filament can be packaged and secured for shipment (with cable ties or the like) without needing to include a whole spool every time. The end user can buy/print only as many spools as they need.

This concept also allows for 'extra' features to be included in the spool (such as retention for loose ends) without these features being wasted on every discarded spool.


---

