Last year, we reported that the French defense contractor Naval Group cooperated with the French Engineering Institute Centrale Nantes to develop the world's first full-size 3D printed military propeller, and now the same cooperation has produced the world's first 3D printed hollow propeller blade. The blade case is part of the European H2020 project, the RAMSSES project (implementation and demonstration of advanced materials solutions for sustainable and efficient ships), funded by the European Commission, aims to use new technologies such as 3D printing to reduce the environmental impact and manufacture and operate large ships .
Using Wire Arc for additive manufacturing (WAAM), the group plans to 3D print steel propellers up to 6 meters in diameter, but the prototypes tested are produced in a third of the proportion. The blade weighs about 300 kg and can be made in less than 100 hours. Their analysis shows that full-size 3D printed blades can reduce weight by 40%! Not only does this require less material, but it also reduces the load on the engine, which can further reduce fuel consumption and therefore the impact of the ship on the environment. In addition, the improved blade design of Sirehna (a subsidiary of Centrale Nantes and the Naval Group) improves efficiency and durability, while reducing radiated noise and vibrations that negatively affect marine animals.
Patrice Vinot, Propeller Packaging Manager of the Navy Group ’s RAMSSES project, put forward some exciting statements about the proof of concept: "Although additive manufacturing is increasingly appearing in the industry, the programming and design of complex parts, such as marine propeller blades, Representation is a huge challenge for our team and partners, and this new case study reveals the potential of this process means that we now expect tomorrow's propellers to have unparalleled performance. Participate in projects like RAMSSES and coordinate our academics And a network of industry partners will enable us to bring 3D printing to shipyards in the long term. "
Professor Jean-YvesHascot, the head of the Centrale Nantes rapid manufacturing platform and an international expert in additive manufacturing, explained: "On the rapid manufacturing platform, additive manufacturing has been developed for the past 35 years. All these years of research have Realized by projects like RAMSSES, RAMSSES represents a real transfer of our technology to the industrial environment. "The navy industry is slowly but surely adopting 3D printing to ensure smooth sailing in the future."