Source: Samael_ via Printables

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What’s in the Box?

These Mini Filament Spool Swatches Are an Adorable Way to Showcase Your Materials

by Adam Kohut
Published Feb 13, 2023

Trending on Reddit last week – and up for grabs on Printables – the 3D printable "Mini Filament Spool Swatches Box" is a unique take on material samples.

An entirely 3D-printable mini filament spool box made the rounds late last week on Reddit. It’s a unique take on sample cards, which more accurately show a filament’s color after it has been printed (think paint swatches).

The box, created by Printables user Samael_, is exactly what it sounds like: a latchable box that displays miniature filament “spools,” which are really cylindrical prints of various filament types and colors.

The filament swatches print separately from the spools (Source: Samael_ via Printables)

There’s no real functionality other than “fun,” especially when considering the various practicalities that sample cards bring with them: the ability to see layer squish, for example, or an overall space-saving design.

If nothing else, the “Mini Filament Spool Swatches Box” is an easy project that serves well as a free-time-filler – and gives your setup a bit of an innovative boost.

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About the Author:

Adam Kohut

Adam is a contributing writer who joined All3DP in 2022 and has more than a decade in tech journalism. He has written for UltiMaker, Protolabs, and many other (tech) startups and corporates worldwide.

License: The text of "These Mini Filament Spool Swatches Are an Adorable Way to Showcase Your Materials" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.