With the introduction of “Filametrics” by Bambu Lab, the focus is also shifting to Spoolman – an open source alternative for the automated management of filament spools. While Bambu Lab’s solution is primarily aimed at users of its own hardware, Spoolman takes a more universal approach and can be integrated into existing 3D printing workflows.
Spoolman is used for the central management of filament stocks and thus addresses a problem that many makers are familiar with. The overview of spools that have already been started and their remaining quantity. Especially with an increasing variety of materials, it becomes more difficult to plan spontaneous print jobs without stock control. Spoolman provides a remedy here and offers a clearly structured overview of stock levels and availability.
Technically, Spoolman runs as an independent web application that can be operated locally on a server. Particularly practical: the software can communicate directly with OctoPrint and Klipper. Thanks to the integration with Klipper, weight changes can be recorded in real time – even in parallel on several printers. This significantly reduces the maintenance effort compared to previous, purely manual spool management systems.
In addition, Spoolman uses a database of filament profiles maintained by the community, which makes it easier to record new spools. Uniform labels can be printed for the physical organization, enabling a consistent appearance regardless of the manufacturer.
Even if commercial solutions such as Filametrics could offer extended functions in the future, Spoolman is already proving to be a feature-rich alternative for anyone who relies on open standards and system independence. The source code is freely available, allowing the tool to be flexibly adapted to individual requirements. The download can be found directly on GitHub.
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