Robot Arms Learn to Tie Fly Fishing Flies

In episode 99 of The Robotics Business, Lucas and Luna explore the unlikely world of automated fly tying. They focus on a small robotics startup called FlyTie Robotics out of Bozeman, Montana, which adapted a six-axis arm from a Japanese supplier to tie size-14 Pheasant Tail nymphs. Lucas explains the precision challenge — handling thread as thin as 0.1 millimeter and materials like deer hair and peacock herl without crushing them. Luna asks about the viability for the fishing industry versus custom tiers. The conversation covers the market size for specialty fly tying (estimated around $200 million annually in the US), the software challenge of translating tier hand motions into machine code, and whether this signals a broader trend of hyper-specialized robotic applications. The episode ends with a reflection on how automation can revive artisan crafts rather than destroy them. #FlyTieRobotics #RoboticFlyTying #IndustrialRobots #PrecisionAutomation #ArtisanCrafts #RoboticsStartup #BozemanMontana #SixAxisArm #FlyFishing #PheasantTailNymph #AutomationTrends #BusinessAndTechnology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RoboticsBusiness #Robotics #Manufacturing #HyperSpecialization Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo