SpoolBuddy¶
SpoolBuddy is an optional companion hardware add-on that brings NFC-powered spool management to your Bambuddy setup. Using a Raspberry Pi and an NFC reader, you can tag your filament spools with NFC stickers and instantly identify them by tapping.
SpoolBuddy connects a Raspberry Pi with an NFC reader to your Bambuddy instance, enabling:
- Instant spool identification — Tap a spool to pull up its details.
- NFC tag writing — Write spool data to NFC stickers for easy tracking.
- Inventory sync — Spool data syncs with your Bambuddy inventory automatically.
- Spool weight tracking — Tracks live spool weight from the connected scale.
- Fully local — Runs entirely on your network, no cloud required.
Getting Started¶
Hardware Requirements¶
What you need to build a current SpoolBuddy device — Raspberry Pi, touchscreen, PN5180 NFC reader, scale module, and wiring.
Materials Required¶
Practical bill of materials for a complete SpoolBuddy build.
Wiring Diagrams¶
Pin maps, ASCII wiring diagrams, and a Fritzing-style visual overview for PN5180 NFC and NAU7802 scale connections to the Raspberry Pi GPIO header.
Installation¶
Install the SpoolBuddy stack from the Bambuddy repository and enable kiosk auto-start on boot.
Deployment Modes¶
Choose between all-in-one Pi setup (Bambuddy + SpoolBuddy) and companion-only mode.
Configuration¶
Connect to Bambuddy, set API access, tune display/scale behavior, and verify NFC/tag workflows.
Supported Pis¶
Compatibility matrix and practical recommendations for Raspberry Pi models.