Some 3D printed reel news

[mhackney]

Angler's Club Magazine just published this piece on my 3D printed reel and an interview they did with me. I do talk a bit about my design aesthetics and process so you might find it interesting.

cheers,
Michael

[Eaglezsoar]

Thank you Michael, I did find the article interesting.
The skull image you did was cool!

[mhackney]

Thanks Carl. THIS is why we didn't want you to leave the forum! And, you know that I was/am joking when I kid you about being high poster right? It really isn't even close to an issue for me. Anything in the top two is fine

cheers,
Michael

[Eaglezsoar]

Thanks Carl. THIS is why we didn't want you to leave the forum! And, you know that I was/am joking when I kid you about being high poster right? It really isn't even close to an issue for me. Anything in the top two is fine

cheers,
Michael

I know Michael, just a period of feeling sorry for myself. My mother is 80 and having a ton of problems and I let things get to me. I have to learn to take things as they come, life is not always a bed of roses.
I am surprised by the support by the forum members, some even offered to buy things that would help me. I appreciated the tips but cannot accept gifts quite yet, maybe next year!

[626Pilot]

Have you thought about getting an injection molding machine off ebay and knocking these out 50 at a time?

[mhackney]

Absolutely not 626Pilot! Firstly, the "woven" side plates can't be injection molded nor can the 1 piece backplate. I would have to completely redesign the reel for IM. But the real reason is that anglers/fly fishermen don't want a cheap plastic reel. Surprising huh? They are interested in this reel specifically because it is 3D printed, and perhaps, a piece of angling history. On top of that, I customize the reels for each individual - colors, "embossing" their initials on the reel, etc. It truly is "manufactured for one". I have no interest in cheap reels, I do have an interest in exploiting additive manufacturing and taking advantage of it's unique attributes for both aesthetics and mechanical design.

cheers,
Michael

[Mac The Knife]

"agitative" manufacturing? Thanks for the files. My first attempt at printing them failed, I had to go through the printer and tighten things up, mainly the belts. Printing and assembling one of your reels is educational.

[mhackney]

agitative! I hate spell checker. I fixed it in the post.

The reels are not a beginner project! If you can print the pieces and assemble them with minimal trimming, you know you have "arrived"!

cheers,
Michael

[DanHall]

Congrats on the article. I printed one of your reels a few days ago as a first set of test prints on a brand new printer to work on settings so it didn't turn out great but it did go together just fine. I promptly broke off the pawl piece so the rest of the reel is sitting on my desk at work. The problems I had were entirely my own (new printer settings combined with not letting the glue completely harden before playing) as the design is really slick. I built that one for fun anyway, I'll have to build a "real" one in the near future. Thanks for sharing the files!