3D Printed Fly Reel - the original!

thingiverse

This is the moment I've been working towards, unveiling my completely 3D printed fly fishing reel, created by me, aka The Eclectic Angler, and featured in <a href="https://youtu.be/UdDskTQPK_s">Field & Stream Magazine's Hook Shots</a> video by Joe Cermele. Be sure to watch the video! This innovative reel was also recognized by the American Fly Fishing Museum as the first 3D printed (and functional) fly reel and the lightest 4wt fly reel, earning its place in their quarterly <a href="http://amff.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2015-Vol41-No3web.pdf">The American Fly Fisher</a> journal in 2015. I started designing this reel in 2012 and after a year of work, it was ready to be tested on the water. I continued refining my design over four years, gathering feedback from thousands of anglers who have downloaded and printed one, as well as insights gained from printing nearly five hundred reels myself. This version is the best yet. For those interested in creating their own reel, I've made the STLs available for free on my website at <a href="http://www.eclecticangler.com/3d-printed-fly-reels">The Eclectic Angler</a>, where you'll also find more information, history, and photos. Today, I'm making the files open source under the Creative Commons - BY-SA license, allowing anyone to learn from, modify, and enjoy this project. These reels present a challenging print project but I've designed them with "tolerance tolerant" parts in mind, ensuring that even if your 3D printer isn't perfectly calibrated or you lack advanced slicing skills, the reel will still assemble smoothly. Advanced designers may find some valuable lessons to improve their skills as well. A detailed Instructions PDF is included, offering tips on slicing and assembly. Please read it carefully – I've found that every question asked has already been answered in the document. Even if you're not an avid fly fisherman, this reel makes for a great stress reliever and showpiece. The satisfying clicking sound is calming, making it a joy to print and display. So go ahead, print one, and share your photos! <b>About the Files</b> Firstly, please read the detailed instructions – they cover everything you need to know. I've included files for various aesthetic and functional options. In brief, these are: <b>Aesthetic Options</b> * The back plate has two options: ported or plain unported * Each spool plate offers two options: ported or plain unported You can mix and match these to create different looking reels. <b>Mechanical Options</b> There are three click check options: * Left-hand retrieve * Right-hand retrieve * Symmetrical And several parts with various size options to ensure a perfect fit: * Three foot sizes available * Three click spindle sizes