StarLink Cable Reel

StarLink cable reel with 45m and 15m versions. Has bearings on the hand grip and a rotating knob to make it easy to roll up the cable for a StarLink. Large diameter (I printed mine on a PrusaXL) to protect the cable and prevent it from getting flexed too much. Reel is divided into two sections, one for the cable being rolled up, a second smaller section for the “tail” that you want on the end being plugged into the router.

Printing

I used a textured print sheet on a Prusa XL.

The reel is printed in three pieces: upper, divider, and lower. They are screwed together with some M3 screws (the screws are deliberately a tight fit). The grip has an upper and a lower part (the lower piece is the same for both versions). Attach 4 bearings to the grip, 2 per side, using M3 screws. Cut small pieces of PTFE tubing and snap into the slots on both sides of the grip (reduces friction when turning). The two sides of the grip are attached to each other with more M3 screws. Use a heat set insert on the back of the upper reel, then use an M3 screw to attach the knob and knob pin.

There is a hole in the divider that allows you to pull however much cable you want for the “tail” through to the smaller portion of the reel where you can wrap it around and secure the cable in one of the 6 clips around the outer perimeter. The rest of the cable occupies the larger section of the reel. Spool out as much as you need to reach your panel.

Note that the StarLink 45m and 15m cables are slightly different diameters, the reels are sized accordingly