For my 5 reel group, all parts have been machined for 4 reels. These have round rings and side plates, as shown in the photo that is presently the header of this blog. For the 5th reel, I wanted to do something different, so I have altered the rings to make a raised pillar design.

Fabrication of the ring starts with a slice of 6061 aluminum tube stock. Here it is being roughly sized on the mill. While still in the 4 jaw chuck, I will improve the surfaces on the lathe.

Now drill and counterbore holes for the pillar screws.

As the flange is cut away, the ring becomes much more compliant. So before cutting, I screw the ring to a piece of tool plate.

Here is the ring with the flange mostly cut away.

My round tool plate was not large enough to hold the ring while rounding off the lugs, so I made a new fixture for this. It holds the ring by 2 screws.

Here is the the raised pillar frame, compared to a round reel that uses the same spool.  I will make black Delrin side plates to press into the rings.