SHIP MODEL PROPELLER MANUFACTURING BY USING RPT

The manufacturing process of ship model components (i.e. rudders, propellers, fins, brackets, etc.), can be a time consuming and expensive procedure. For these reasons in the last 10 years, the research community in collaboration with the industries has developed new manufacturing techniques aimed at reducing the prototyping cost and provide rapidly models ready to be tested; moreover, a significant reduction of the necessary surface treatments and hand finishing has been achieved. In the present paper a review of the possible applications of rapid prototyping techniques for the production of model scale ships components is presented. A comparison of the hydrodynamical behaviour of similar propellers at model scale, made with different materials and produced using SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) technique, is reported. The results of open water tests carried out at INSEAN towing tank on the geometry of the E779 propeller are presented to establish the range of better use of the several tested propellers.