That is a great idea. What materials are available? Would it be possible to print a diving plug (like Xrap magnum)? What about costs?

 

Sounds like fun. I think a cedar plug design might be about the simplest to make. There are some all epoxy style ones that might be a good shape to start with. The wooden ones use the tapered lead head that may be hard to replicate with same density materials. Some sort of concave jethead could work. Are you able to make small holes through in the production? A diving plug would be cool, but would you be able to inset a wireform to bear the load of a fish? Let us know what you come up with. I would waste SO MUCH plastic if I had a 3D printer to play with.

 

I was at the RAPID additive manufacturing conference in Detroit a few weeks ago. I sat through a presentation from AddiLures. They are looking for people to invest in their company and have a Kickstarter page set up.

I really wanted to be impressed, but wasn't. The concept is there, but this company (really just 2 guys) didn't appear to have done the in-depth research they should have. I think they are hurrying their product to market. They had a few samples there that I played with. Small and light for freshwater bass. Yes, you can build with a hole through the center. Yes, you could print something like an XRap. The price point they discussed was ~$20 and you have a few color and body style options. The color is not painted, but impregnated in the polymer.

They were promoting the surface finish (natural fish scale) that is able to be produced with the process.

 

CoCreate has a free 3D modelling cad software package. An infinite number of designs could be created! I think the files get saved out at *.stl format for direct printing on most 3D printers. Or just buy a Rapala and go fish!

 

I use a 3D printer at work. The beauty of the process is that you can manufacture complex geometry that would be otherwise impossible to machine or cast.

I'm sure there are designs for lures using this technology that have not even been thought of yet. It takes a totally different thought process to design something that for many years was impossible to make.

 

I have a 3D printer at home. Setting up to print lures and things like that is just a matter of making a model of the lure to print. The two most common materials for 3D printing at home is ABS and PLA. Some printers are also setup for printing in Nylon (I'm not. Yet. Soon...)

The other direction some people have elected to go is 3D printing molds for things like swim baits. You can make all different kinds of things. I have recently seen a series of files for printing molds for pouring warm water fishing lures to be made out of a soft, flexible material in shapes like frogs, crawdads, insects, and small fish. With a little work I bet a larger swim bait for tuna or the like could be made. Can't really do hoochies but swim baits would be a cake walk.

 

If you guys have cad software, check out quickparts website. I haven't dreamed something up yet, but you can upload your file and the part shows up at your door.

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