Lulzbot Text Holder

One minor issue with my Lulzbot Mini printer is that when the filament spool is mounted on the printer, the filament label faces toward the back. I can't read the filament label while I'm using it. To address that issue, I made this holder for a replaceable filament label / sample that tells me what filament is loaded.

The holder snaps onto the bottom of the Lulzbot Mini frame, and holds a label that you can, if you choose, print from the same filament you have mounted on the printer – that way the label also functions as a sample of a print made with that filament. Keep the label stored with the filament, and when you mount the filament, slide the corresponding label into the holder. That way, you'll always know what's mounted on the printer.

You can also use this design to print your name, that you slide into the holder when you start a print, so everybody knows who's print is on the printer, so they don't have to ask around.

Slice Holder.stl oriented as in the STL file: with the closed end on the print bed. Print with Brim, and no Raft or Supports. I sliced at the Lulzbot Mini Standard (0.25 mm) resolution. The brim is important to keep the part from coming off the bed during printing.

Slice BarPla.stl and BarPetg.stl as oriented in their STL files: with the back of the label on the print bed. Print with no Brim, Raft, or Supports. I sliced at the Lulzbot Mini High Detail (0.18 mm) resolution, and changed color at layer 16, Z = about 3.05 mm. I used High Detail resolution so the letters will print clearly.

LulzbotTextHolder.FCStd is the FreeCAD design file. I used the font OpenSans-Bold.ttf downloaded from Google Fonts. OFL.txt is the open source license covering that font. You will need to download that font (or another suitable font), then set the ShapeStrings in the model to point to the font you downloaded. You can adjust the X and Y positions of the text, as well as the size of the font.

To print in two colors on the Lulzbot Mini, I added an @pause OctoPrint command just before the first layer of text. When OctoPrint paused the print, I moved the nozzle out of the way of the print (X and Y only; not Z), then changed the filament (without using Extrude commands) and clicked Resume in Octoprint.

The text on the bars shows the hot-end temperature, the bed temperature, and the cool-down bed temperature for removing your prints from the bed. These numbers are, of course, specific to the filament and printer you’re using. I copied them from the CuraLE settings by selecting Preferences / Configure Cura, then choosing the filament I wanted to label (for example PolyLite PLA), clicking on the Print Settings tab, then copying the Default Printing Temperature, the Default Build Plate Temperature, and the Part Removal Temperature.