Fishing is a popular pastime enjoyed by many people around the world. While the traditional approach to fishing usually involves the use of natural bait, artificial lures are becoming the preferred choice to targeting fish. Modern technology has introduced new methods to produce artificial lures, such as 3D printing. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what 3D printed fishing lures are, how they are made, and the benefits they offer to anglers.
What are 3D printed fishing lures?
3D printed fishing lures are artificial baits created using a process called 3D printing. This process involves using a specialized printer to create three-dimensional objects from digital designs. Fishing lures can be designed using 3D modeling software, which allows for a high degree of customization and precision.
3D printed lures can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, metal, and even wood. They can be designed to mimic the appearance of natural bait or to have a unique, eye-catching design that attracts fish.
How are 3D printed lures made?
The process of creating a 3D printed lure begins with designing the lure using 3D modeling software. The design can be customized to suit the angler’s needs, such as the type of fish they want to catch, the water conditions, and the preferred style of fishing.
Once the design is complete, it is imported into a Slicer program to generate a file called G-code that can be sent to a 3D printer. The printer creates the lure by reading the G-code file and layering thin slices of material on top of one another until the desired shape is achieved. The printing process can take several hours, depending on the complexity of the design and the size of the lure.
After the lure is printed, it may require gluing parts together and sanding before seal coating. Seal coating is optional, but preferred to keep 3D prints from taking in water and to add protection from hook rash and toothy fish. Seal coating can be done with automotive clear coat like KBS Diamond-clear or an acetone smoothing process if you’re printing with ABS or any applicable filament. After adding the finishing touches, such as painting, clear coating and hardware, the lure is complete and ready to be fished.
Benefits of 3D printed lures
One of the primary benefits of 3D printing lures is the customizability. Anglers can create lures that are specifically designed for the type of fish they want to catch, the water conditions they’ll be fishing in, and their own personal preferences. This level of customization can increase the chances of catching fish and make the fishing experience more enjoyable.
Rapid prototyping is also a great benefit when 3D printing lures because it allows you to quickly create and test multiple iterations of your design, which can significantly speed up the development process.
Another benefit of 3D printing lures is cost. For example, a $20 roll of PETG filament is enough material to print over 30 lipless crankbaits weighing 12 grams each. The cost after adding paint, clear coat and hardware to each lure is minimal considering the price tag of similar lures on the market. The initial investment of a 3D printer can be as low as $200 or you can choose to outsource your 3D designs to companies that 3D print for businesses. If you own a computer, there is free open source 3D modeling software such as Blender that comes with a slight learning curve, but also a multitude of resources like YouTube for tutorials.
Finally, 3D printed fishing lures offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional fishing lures. Because they can be made on demand, there’s no need for mass production or excess waste. Additionally, because they can be designed to mimic the appearance of natural bait, they can reduce the need for live bait, which can be harmful to fish populations and the environment. There’s even biodegradable or recycled plastic filament options available for 3D printing.
As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative designs and materials being used to create fishing lures.