Filament Adapter for the Noztek Winder 2: Expanding Spool Compatibility
A new filament adapter system for the Noztek Winder 2 expands spool core compatibility across the standard range of 3D printing spool formats.
The Spool Compatibility Challenge
The 3D printing market has never standardised on a single spool format. Hub diameters, spool widths, core inner diameters, and overall spool dimensions vary between manufacturers and have evolved over time. For a filament winder intended to work with a range of spool types — both purchased empty spools and repurposed commercial spools — this presents a mechanical challenge that a fixed hub design cannot address.
The New Adapter System
The filament adapter system replaces the fixed hub with a modular design that accepts a range of interchangeable inserts. Each insert is machined to the inner core diameter of a specific spool format, and the outer interface to the winder drive shaft is standardised across all inserts. Changing between spool formats takes under a minute — loosen the retention fastener, swap the insert, tighten, and continue.
The initial adapter set covers the most common spool core diameters: 52mm, 54mm, and 76mm, covering the large majority of commercially available empty spools and the most common recycled commercial spools.
Installation on Existing Winder 2 Units
The adapter system is designed as a retrofit for the existing Winder 2 installed base. The hub replacement is a simple mechanical process that requires no tools beyond a standard hex key. Detailed instructions are provided with the retrofit kit and are available in the updated Winder 2 documentation on the Noztek downloads page.
The adapter kit is included as standard on all new Winder 2 units from this date. Retrofit kits for existing machines are available through the Noztek website.