3D Printed Fly Fishing Reel

[scobo]

Looks awesome scobo. You can't go wrong with basic black. Have you fished it yet?

Haven't got round to it yet, the season's closed here in the UK, but I'm sure it'll make a great wee brook reel.

[techstorage]

Here is my print of Michael's new version. Thanks for the file, I enjoyed making it today.

[mhackney]

Looks great techstorage! Black and white is a classic combination. I'm guessing you sliced with Slic3r?

I just got some of the copper filled PLA and bronze filled PLA from ColorFABB (via PrintedSolid in the US). It is very interesting looking stuff. I can't wait to try printing a reel with it. It is very heavy. I think it is something like 80% metal powder filled.

cheers,
Michael

[dunginhawk]

mhackney its 90/10 metal to PLA i think... Its pretty hard to print with on the rostock... There are a lot of little things that need to be done... Most notably PTFE in the feeder, and slow it down.
Im running a new printed feeder, with 10-15mm/s for my copper and bronze.

I plan to print the reel soon too. just cant find the time

[mhackney]

I've been getting a lot of interest in my reel over the last few weeks. On 12/22/15 I posted a description of how I designed the reel and what I was trying to accomplish on my blog. I also presented my new version 5 design and all of the enhancements I've made based on my experience and feedback from the many folks who have asked for the files to print. The story got picked up by a number of blogs and forums. I was also contacted by an editor at Field & Stream Magazine to do an article on 3D printing and fly fishing. I printed a special reel to match the editor's column, Hook Shots, in black and red with the skull logo on the spool retainer. It turned out super fantastic! I am also printing two "traveling demo" reels to give to a couple of bloggers/writers who are attending the big fly fishing trade shows that start this month.

Here is an exploded view with annotations on the new version 5 design.

[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v1 ... 5744-4.jpg[/img]

I've also been doing a lot of interesting work to coax the slicer into doing special things - like creating an engraved look. I have a bunch of reels to photo and I'll post those this weekend.

cheers,
Michael

[mhackney]

Thanks Duginhawk. I do have PFTE liner on a specially modified EZstruder that supports the filament right down to the drive gear and PTFE Bowden tubes. I've printed a lot of trick stuff so I'm up for the challenge! Worse case I'll break out my mini effector mounted direct drive extruder. But with my Kraken hot end and optimized nozzles, I think I'll be able to push it through. I'm doing some temperature/melt/flow tests now. I really hopes it works out!

[mhackney]

I spent some time last night and this morning printing parts in the ColorFab bronze. All I can say is "wow". It literally flows like butter on my printer and goes down smooth and flawlessly. The filament is very stiff and heavy as received. The parts are amazingly heavy and beautiful.

[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v1 ... 3591-3.jpg[/img]

I am running at 25mm/s but could go considerable faster based on what I'm seeing. I'm printing at 210° (my temps are calibrated to a thermocouple so are reasonably accurate) and I tweaked the flow up 5% as per the tips on ColorFab's site. I run a modified EZStruder (PTFE tube passes through the coupler right down to the knobbed gear) with PFTE Bowden. A Kraken hot end with my modified nozzles with a 1mm bore. I think this material definitely benefits from the shorter bore as it creates less back pressure. I'll post photos of finished parts and more later.

[mhackney]

I'm blown away by the ColorFabb bronze and copper PLA (left and right in the photo below). It prints beautifully and the parts are really nice. This photo is the down side (on matte PEI) off the printer. I have not polished or anything. The layer lines on the side are almost imperceptible. It is amazing stuff, and heavy.

[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s6/v13 ... 3690-3.jpg[/img]

I am going to work on some automated finishing techniques - vibratory and tumble polishing (I have 6 different medias for wet or dry polishing), sanding, burnishing, flame polishing, metal polish, etc. I've seen some spectacular results on the web.

The other think is that as this was printing, I watched the circular infill (KISSlicer) and that infill looked SUPERB and unique. I am going to print a reel side plate with my exposed infill technique and then work on polishing the metal fill. That has the potential to be uber unique and beautiful.

[scobo]

Very nice !
Looking forward to seeing the finished article.

[mhackney]

Me too. I don't know if I have enough filament but I'm going to try. I got a sample pack to test out as the spools are a bit expensive. I would order it in a jiffy now but they are out of stock here in the US.

[heathenx]

Here's my first stab at it. Well done, mhackney. It functions very well.

http://youtu.be/jTJxOpsqf8k

By the way, I have some bronze PLA too. It's my understanding that it's much weaker than standard PLA. I use a vibratory tumbler with miscellaneous washers and nuts as my media. Seems to work well.

[scobo]

Just been taking a look at some of the prints online made with the Colorfabb bronzefill and copperfill and the results are indeed very impressive, especially once it's polished.
Looks like some folk are using good old Brasso to polish it.

[mhackney]

I am printing some test coupons of the ColorFabb bronze and copper to break test. I won't be surprised if they are quite strong, I've tried tweaking the rings in the photo above and no sign of cracking. It will be interesting to see the failure mode - clean break vs jaggy break.

I have the rings in a flow through vibrator with medium pyramid media. It will be interesting to see how that works. Everyone I've shown these parts to can't believe they are 3D printed. I'm really hoping I can use it for these reels.

Meanwhile, next weekend starts the beginning of the fly fishing shows. I've sent some of my reels to folks attending shows I'm not to show around. A lady angler/blogger/writer named Jen Kugler Hanson will have a reel at the Denver expo next weekend.

[mhackney]

I just published photos of three special reels I printed on my gallery. Here are a few individual photos:

"Tranquility"
[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v3 ... 4952-3.jpg[/img]

"Hook Shot"
[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v57 ... 4758-3.jpg[/img]

Snow
[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v1 ... 2046-3.jpg[/img]

[Khalid Khattak]

Cool reels..great

[mhackney]

What about this one - Alien!

[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v1 ... 4461-3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v1 ... 1260-3.jpg[/img]

[dunginhawk]

im trying to polish the bronze and copper, but i guess im not getting the results i want... im printing a vase for my wife in copper right now.. Ill try to sand it way down and see how it polishes.

[scobo]

I am printing some test coupons of the ColorFabb bronze and copper to break test. I won't be surprised if they are quite strong, I've tried tweaking the rings in the photo above and no sign of cracking. It will be interesting to see the failure mode - clean break vs jaggy break.

I have the rings in a flow through vibrator with medium pyramid media. It will be interesting to see how that works. Everyone I've shown these parts to can't believe they are 3D printed. I'm really hoping I can use it for these reels.

Meanwhile, next weekend starts the beginning of the fly fishing shows. I've sent some of my reels to folks attending shows I'm not to show around. A lady angler/blogger/writer named Jen Kugler Hanson will have a reel at the Denver expo next weekend.

How's it going with the Bronzefill and Copperfill ?
I've ordered a sample pack to try containing both plus Woodfill, should have it by the weekend.
Be interested to see what results you've had from polishing it.

[mhackney]

I'd say great success. These parts look superb. No one believes they are printed.

I just got my roll of CopperFill this week so I am good to go now to print a reel in copper.

[scobo]

They do look terrific.
Can't wait to see the finished reel !

[mhackney]

And they are heavy, like metal! I'm making a reel in cooper fill with graphite composite PLA side plates. High Tech!

[geneb]

Have you tested one to destruction yet? I'm curious to see how much stronger it may be in comparison to normal PLA.

g.

[Fester]

Those rings look amazing ...

[mhackney]

I have Gene and the copper fill is very tough. It does not fracture like normal PLA, it sort of bends and then fractures. But I had a VERY difficult time breaking it.

Not scientific I know. The good news is, I have 2 friends that work at or for Instron so maybe I can get some testing done!

Cheers,
Michael

[mhackney]

Hey folks, due to the HUGE spike in requests for the files after the Field & Stream video (over 500 now), I have automated the process so you can download the files yourself here: http://www.eclecticangler.com/3d-printed-reel-plans/

You do need to register and checkout but they are free. This allows me to automatically notify you when new versions are posted.

cheers,
Michael