After many iterations, I finally completed my toilet paper spool holder project. This variation supports a standard bathroom wall TP holder, 5" in width (see photo). Adjustments can be made using a free Onshape account and creating a copy. This assembly consists of four different STL files, “TPS Body”, “TPS Ball Bearing”, “TPS Offset Slide”, and “TPS Offset End”, plus a spring that you must acquire separately. The roller bearings print in place, but must be flat on the bed for the individual balls to be supported. The spring I use with this design should be 1mm wire x 16mm diameter x 70mm long, made from 304 (A2) stainless steel. You can also purchase a longer spring and cut it to length, but you must bend the end inward that rests against the slider.

To assemble, first insert the ball bearing into the body. This will be a tight fit to keep it from sliding back out. Next, align the offset end so the alignment rib matches the slot in the body. Press it in and it will lock into place permanently. Next, insert the spring into the body with the bent inward end facing out. Finally, align the offset slide so the alignment rib matches the slot in the body. Press it in against the spring and it will snap into place. The slide cannot be removed at this point.

Supports: Enable Tree or Organic supports. Supports are only needed for the bearing balls and the offset ends.

My printer, filament, and settings: I have printed this on a Qidi Q1 Pro w/ 0.4mm extruder using Creality PETG filament. The bed temperature is 80°C. The first layer print temperature is 240°C and the remainder prints at 250°C using the Qidi Slicer’s generic PETG filament profile. I used gyroid infill at 20%. Layer height is 0.2mm.

This was designed using Onshape and is public. Using your free account, you can copy the design and adjust it. I have created variables which will adjust the mounting width, spool width, spool diameter, spool offset, and mount diameter. Changes made in the Assembly View variable table flow to the individual part studios which can then be exported to STL files. Don’t export from the assembly to individual STL files as this will not result in a printable design. The link to this design for public 3D viewing or copying is:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/8c693a26cd45246fffcca070/w/a82e896f48b7f90f775ca586/e/5a61a05060a6594c8dacbe74

Note that when adjusting the spool length, the slider does not automatically move and must be manually re-positioned. Sliding it out of the body before increasing the spool length is advised.

This was an exercise for me in learning more features of Onshape, especially regarding parameterizing aspects of a design. While these TP spool holders work very well, they are definitely not silent! During this development journey, I needed to remove the offset slider to salvage the spring. I was successful by clamping the slider in the jaws of a vise and prying the body using a claw hammer. The offset end can also be removed this way. If careful, the spool body is not damaged and can be reused.

This design is public and there are no restrictions on its use for any purpose, whatsoever.