The present invention is a container for storing, managing and monitoring the usage time and consumption of a filamentary material consumed by an associated 3D printer during the printer's operation, including a storage quantity of at least one filament, and a power supply, and filament locking means, and filament lock actuation means. The container is universal and can therefore be used with a variety of makes and models of 3D printer hardware. The filament is fed from the quantity of filament through the filament locking means, prior to exiting the container. The filament locking means are normally actuated, thereby preventing feed of filament to emerge from the container unless a predetermined set of unlocking conditions are met to disengage the filament locking means via the filament lock actuation means.

The present invention is a container for storing, managing and monitoring the usage time and consumption of a filamentary material consumed by an associated 3D printer during the printer's operation, including a storage quantity of at least one filament, and a power supply, and filament locking means, and filament lock actuation means. The container is universal and can therefore be used with a variety of makes and models of 3D printer hardware. The filament is fed from the quantity of filament through the filament locking means, prior to exiting the container. The filament locking means are normally actuated, thereby preventing feed of filament to emerge from the container unless a predetermined set of unlocking conditions are met to disengage the filament locking means via the filament lock actuation means.