"3D Printing for the Underdogs"
3D printing has revolutionized various industries, and the maritime world is no exception. This article provides tips, ideas, and practical examples to demonstrate the usefulness of 3D printing both on board and at home for nautical solutions.
Harnessing 3D Printing for Marine Applications
The versatility of 3D printing enables the creation of custom boat parts, components, and even entire hulls through additive manufacturing. This technology offers rapid prototyping, low-cost production, and high customization tailored to marine environments.
Onboard Applications
3D printing is increasingly being used onboard naval vessels to fabricate replacement parts, reducing downtime and reliance on port supplies. Smaller functional components, such as valves, brackets, and impellers, can be easily printed on demand.
Durable Results
For wear-resistant parts, specialized filaments and resins offer durable, long-lasting properties. Materials like igus iglide i3000 resin are ideal for marine gears and moving components due to their high durability.
Customization and Rapid Prototyping
3D printing eliminates the need for molds or tooling, allowing one-off or small batch production of fenders, consoles, benches, and other boat accessories with fast turnaround. This is particularly useful for customization and rapid prototyping.
Ready-to-Use Nautical Pieces
Examples of ready-to-use nautical pieces include boat hulls and USVs (Unmanned Surface Vessels), fenders and bumps, consoles and benches, valve housings, pump parts, hydraulic components, strainers, marine gears, and wear parts printed in durable resins.
Purchasing 3D Printers and Filaments
For large-scale boat 3D printing at an industrial level, companies like CEAD provide custom solutions and services rather than off-the-shelf printers. For smaller-scale marine parts, popular 3D printers suitable include FDM printers like the Prusa i3 MK3S+ and Creality Ender 3, as well as DLP printers such as the Elegoo Mars and Anycubic Photon.
Filaments/Resins like marine-grade ASA or PETG offer UV resistance, while specialized resin like igus iglide i3000 is ideal for highly durable wear parts using DLP technology.
Websites for Downloadable Nautical Designs
Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory, and PrusaPrinters contain open-source 3D printable marine parts such as cleats, hooks, and other boat accessories. For industrial or defense-grade boat parts, collaboration or licensing with companies like CEAD or Caracol AM is advised for proprietary designs and consulting.
Affordable 3D Printing Options
A 3D printer under €200 can be used to create various items, including detached parts for a boat and custom tools. More powerful and expensive options, as well as differently colored printers, are available from manufacturers like Anycubic and Bambu Lab.
The Anycubic Kobra 2 printer can be purchased on Amazon and AliExpress. Ready-made ideas can be found in the online store, and the mentioned websites offer ready-to-use 3D printed pieces.
In summary, 3D printing for nautical solutions is a promising field, with industrial 3D printing best suited for hulls and large structures via specialized providers like CEAD. Hobbyists and smaller-scale projects can rely on conventional FDM/DLP printers with UV-resistant filaments or durable resins. Parts can be quickly customized and printed on demand, improving maintenance and speeding manufacturing cycles for boats and marine equipment.
Custom boat parts, including components and even hulls, can be created using 3D printing for rapid prototyping and low-cost production. This technology also offers high customization tailored to marine environments, making it ideal for creating durable, wear-resistant parts such as marine gears using specialized filaments like igus iglide i3000 resin.
Ready-to-use nautical pieces like boat hulls, fenders, consoles, and marine gears can be found on various websites such as Thingiverse and MyMiniFactory, offering open-source 3D printable marine parts. For smaller-scale marine parts, affordable 3D printers like the Anycubic Kobra 2 can be used to create custom nautical solutions at home.
