Anyone who runs a 3D printer knows the drill: filament runs out and you’re left holding a solid plastic spool. Now what? The latest Prusament spools are meant to be taken apart and reused. The Upcycling NEW Prusament Spools contest pulled in hundreds of ideas, from the practical to the outright daft.
I picked seven projects worth printing. You’ll find a mechanical solar-system model, a working clock, a bird feeder, a USB-C fan that needs no soldering, and even an aquarium. Every entry has photos, a short write-up, and a free download link. Round up a few empty spools and we’re off.
Note: some models may need a specific profile or material. The interactive guide linked below walks you through filament choice and print settings.
Spooletarium – mechanical solar system
The most ambitious entry in the bunch. The spool becomes a moving planetarium where the planets orbit the Sun—everything is printed gearing, no electronics. Two versions are available (Classic and NFC), and you can grab the full assembly or individual parts so you can split the print job.
Rotating dip and sauce holder
Where do the dips go? The outer ring of the spool spins smoothly on a printed bearing (6 mm airsoft BBs act as the balls) and carries the sauce cups. The center section pops out for easy refilling. For food contact the author suggests stainless bowls from the store or food-safe filament.
Wall clock with simulated filament winding
Clean Prusa-colored wall clock. The spool is topped with a printed stand-in for partially wound filament so it still looks like there’s some left. The dial and markers print without supports; drop in any cheap clock movement. A PDF template is included for placing the numerals and the wall-mount hole.
Bird feeder
Simple, useful garden project. The spool turns into a hanging feeder that both you and the local birds will appreciate come spring. The print is forgiving—choose strength and time to suit. Just remember to print the base (“Feeder Base”) twice. Assembly takes a few minutes with the supplied diagram.
You can also add a camera and let AI handle species ID and photo logging.
Drawer organizer
The most practical workshop idea. A set of parts turns empty spools into stackable drawers for screws, electronics, or small tools. Keep adding spools as your collection grows—which happens faster than you’d think.
USB-C fan, no soldering
A project for us electronics makers that still works without a soldering iron. The spool becomes a retro-futuristic desktop fan that pulls 12 V straight from a USB-C PD charger via a trigger board to run a proper 12 V R-385 motor. No soldering, no code—just screw terminals and spade connectors. Remember to set the PD trigger to 12 V (not 15 or 20). Print the motor mount in PETG for heat resistance.
Spool aquarium
The boldest idea to close the list—empty spools become a small aquarium, complete with a printed water-pump model (3MF). It’s more of a “because we can” gag than a serious home for fish, so treat any live-animal plans with the usual caution and your own responsibility. Still, it shows just how far you can push spool upcycling.
