An interesting passenger...

[mhackney]

I gave a presentation on 3D printing and the 3D printed fly fishing reel I designed at the American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, Vt yesterday. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to drive my Cab 125 miles each way on NH and VT back and mountain roads but needed room for my printer. I kept a careful eye on the weather all week and the stars lined up. I put the 3D printer in the passenger seat and fastened it in for safety.



I did get a few odd stares at 6AM as I cruised along, even more when I returned home later that evening and there were more cars on the road. The printer was a quiet passenger.

[faverymi]

Cool.

I drove with a 10ft ladder passenger once. People do get the WTF look.

I was thinking of making some printing projects for the light weight 911 like...

Door handles.
Knobs
Hinges
Pulls.
Some of the brackets.

Do you think is something that might get some attention?

[mhackney]

Interesting and maybe. I have some really cool carbon fiber filament that is very light and strong when printed. A beautiful matte black too.

[Dpmulvan]

Been fly fishing for 25 years would like to know more about your printer.

[mhackney]

Hey Dpmulvan, I drive by Syracuse 2 times a month on my way to Rochester for work.

You can learn more about my 3D printer and how I developed the printed fly reel on my site, Eclectic Angler. I blog and post a lot about 3D printing technology so if you have any specific questions feel free to email or PM me.

cheers,
Michael

[fbarrett]

For a second there, I thought you picked up that traveling robot...

[Jdub]

^^ The Robot.

[JJ 911SC]

Unfortunately, after travelling for over a year in Canada and Europe, HitchBOT got destroyed in Phidadelpha, 2 weeks into its US experience

HitchBOT destroyed in Philadelphia, ending U.S. tour - Technology & Science - CBC News

HitchBot Destroyed -- Global Social Media Star Scrapped In U.S. | TMZ.com

[Troutbumwannab]

Cool, I'm a fly fiisher as well. Can you post a picture of the reel you designed? Perhaps you can put in on the fender of your 911 so that it's still within context of this forum.

I was fly fishing with my Carrera 3.2 last month and had to drive some tough roads until I couldn't go forward anymore. While backing up, I dumped her in a deep ditch and almost flipped it. Needed to hike out 3 miles to find a farmer to pull me out with his tractor. Not a good day, but I did manage to get her back on the road and off to another part of the stream where I caught some nice Belgian Browns.

[mhackney]

Troutbumwannabee,

I'm a reel maker of aluminum, brass and nickel silver fly reels. Been doing that for years and 6 years ago I wrote a book on how to make brass fly reels using simple hand tools. I got into 3D printing to prototype new designs but then I asked myself "Hmm, I wonder if I can build a fully functional 3D printed reel with no other hardware?" It took a bit over 2 years but I did. I've been getting a bit of press on both the fly fishing and the 3D printing sites over the last 9 months.

I just had an article on 3D printing and how I developed the reel published in the American Museum of Fly Fishing's quarterly Journal this issue. You can download a free copy here.

Here are some photos:

Tanquility


Bling


Fire & Smoke