Griepp06
Active Member
So I got a deal on a Theiling Rollermat Compact 1 and I have been trying to figure out a way to get rid of filter socks for a while so this was a good deal. I have been using 3D printed socks that use felt sheets from the hobby isle that was designed by @reefingainteasy3754 on Youtube. Those however still required me to remember to replace the sheets and with my tank in a busy office I forget to do it most of the time. So that is where a fleece roller would come in but they are expensive unless you get a deal and the reason I got a deal was it is used and these are not sold in the USA any longer but as mentioned I have a 3D printer and a little bit of knowledge with CAD design. So the most common one that is similar is the Red Sea 500 that is 4.45" and the Theiling is 4" so I needed a toller that can handle that extra 0.5". I went to CAD and made something similar to the current one but removed the far side gear and that would allow me to made the center portion 0.5" wider. I did not make it look exactly like how Theiling made it since I am not a CAD expert but it is good enough to do the job. I have already finished the prototype using quick and cheap PLA plastic to confirm that it fits and the gears mesh well. Now it is onto the final version that will use a little more expensive slower printing reef safe PETG. I don't know how many people out there still have this same model of roller mat to also have this issue but once I have played with the design I may make the design public or possibly sell the file who knows. The red one is the original that it came with and the white one is the one that I have designed.
