Cat Fishing Rod Toy - Unglued Remix

This cat fishing rod toy features a functional ratcheting reel with a printed spring to prevent unwanted line release. It makes a satisfying clicking sound as line is reeled in. It was remixed from the original to eliminate the need for gluing parts together. It employs the use of dovetailed parts, threaded parts, & one heat-set insert/M3 screw combination to accomplish this. This also means that it can be easily disassembled for maintenance or to replace a failed or broken part should the need arise.

To build the cat fishing rod toy, you will need to print one of each file, plus extra PoleGuides, depending on the length of rod used & your preferences. You will also need to decide between printing the ReelHandle with or without the option for a heat-set insert.

Print Settings

All parts should be properly oriented & are designed to be printed without supports. For best results, print using a 0.2 mm layer height. I used 40% infill, but you can experiment with other infill densities if you’d like.

Bill of Materials — to assemble the cat fishing rod toy you will need:

¼" diameter fiberglass rod — I harvested the 36" long fiberglass rod I used from an inexpensive driveway marker reflector purchased at a local big box store
M3x10 button head hex screw
M3xD5xL4 brass heat-set insert
cord or string — I used about 4 meters of black 95 paracord purchased from a local craft store
cat toy
lobster clasp (optional)

Assembly

Start by sliding the PoleReelMount into the dovetail socket on the reverse side of the WinderBase. Then thread the Grip onto the PoleReelMount, locking it into place. Tip: If you have problems printing the bridging on the WinderBase, try rotating it 45° on your print bed to minimize the span your printer needs to bridge.

Insert the Release through the small slot in the WinderBase, making sure it moves freely.

Carefully break free the thin spring on the ReleaseCover and install it onto the WinderBase. The round pin goes through the small hole in the Release, holding it in place. Should the spring ever break or wear out, the ReleaseCover can be easily removed, reprinted, & replaced. The Release should now spring back into place when pressed and released.

Using a soldering iron, carefully melt the brass heat-set insert into the ReelHandle. If you prefer not to use a heat-set insert, I have also included a ReelHandle version that allows the M3 screw to be threaded directly into plastic (ReelHandle NoHeatSet). If you choose this option, be careful not to over-tighten the screw as you will strip out the plastic.

Using the M3 screw, attach the ReelHandle to the OuterReel.

Before threading together the reel assembly, tie one end of your cord through the two small holes on the inside of the OuterReel.

Now thread together the reel assembly. Start by threading the InnerReel onto the InnerReelTeeth. Then thread the OuterReel onto the InnerReelTeeth.

The reel assembly can now be inserted into the WinderBase. It should spin freely when the Release is pressed.

Thread the ReelCap into the WinderBase to hold the reel assembly in place.

Slide the ReelGuide over the end of the PoleReelMount before inserting the fiberglass rod into the end of the PoleReelMount. The PoleGuide(s) should fit tightly onto the fiberglass rod without sliding up & down with normal use. The PoleGuideCap should also fit tightly on the end of the rod. Finally, trim your cord to length and feed it through the PoleGuide(s). Attach a toy to the end, reel in the line, and go fishing!

Optional: I attached a lobster clasp to the end of my line to facilitate easily switching between toys.

Value4Value

This remix is being released under the Value4Value model. If you received any value from my work, please determine what it was worth to you & return that value to me in the form of a donation. Thank you for supporting my work!

Print Info

Printer: VORON 2.4 350
Rafts: No
Supports: No
Resolution: 0.2 mm
Infill: 40%
Filament: MakeShaper - Silver PLA
MakeShaper - MakeShaper Navy PLA
Tianse - Coffee PLA

How I Designed This

Using vjapolitzer’s .stl files as a starting point, all remixing & modeling was done in Fusion 360.

Changelog

Changes made from the original design:

• Grip — increased length by 30% for improved comfort, added female threads to allow glue-free installation onto PoleReelMount
• InnerReel — split original InnerReel into 2 parts (InnerReel & InnerReelTeeth) for ease of printing as well as to make printing the new InnerReel assembly using 2 different filament colors easier, added female threads to allow glue-free installation onto InnerReelTeeth
• InnerReelTeeth — added male threads to allow glue-free installation of InnerReel & OuterReel 
• OuterReel — added female threads to allow glue-free installation onto InnerReelTeeth
• PoleGuide — increased hole diameter to accommodate ¼" fiberglass rod
• PoleGuideCap — modified PoleGuide to provide a finished look to the final guide on the rod
• PoleReelMount — added male threads to allow glue-free installation of Grip, increased hole diameter to accommodate ¼" fiberglass rod, added dovetail for glue-free installation onto WinderBase
• ReelCap — added male threads to allow glue-free installation onto WinderBase, added knurling for improved grip during installation
• ReelGuide — unchanged
• ReelHandle HeatSet — added “maker's mark” to end of handle, changed attachment method to heat-set insert/M3 screw
• ReelHandle NoHeatSet — added “maker's mark” to end of handle, provides option to install handle without use of heat-set insert (M3 screw only)
• Release — unchanged
• ReleaseCover — unchanged
• WinderBase — added female threads to allow glue-free installation of ReelCap, added dovetail socket to allow glue-free installation of PoleReelMount, modeled additional geometry at the intersection of Grip & PoleReelMount, removed ASCII art from the reverse side

September 20, 2023:
• PoleReelMount — uploaded corrected file with flat side for support-free printing

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” — Isaac Newton

This cat fishing rod toy was remixed from the original Cat Fishing Rod Toy by vjapolitzer.

This was remixed from the original to eliminate the need for gluing parts together. It employs the use of dovetailed parts, threaded parts, & one heat-set insert/M3 screw combination to accomplish this. This also means that it can be easily disassembled for maintenance or to replace a failed or broken part should the need arise.