Learn the way 3D printing can improve your hobbies. Watch Dave as he designs, prints, and assessments his customized surfboard fins.
This challenge began off as filling a necessity and rapidly developed right into a extremely nerdy endeavor with big quantities of experimentation and design iteration. I had damaged a surfboard fin and seemed round to exchange it. The fin I wanted was solely obtainable in units of three or 4, however I solely wanted one. Having a 3D printer available, I dove into the world of foil design, flex, and surfboard fin design.
To print this surfboard fin, the recordsdata are hosted within the MatterHackers Digital Design Retailer right here.
The Design Course of:
I took a take a look at all my surfboards, analyzed the fin shapes and foils of every of them – sadly no two fins had been alike. A couple of of them appeared fairly advanced, others amazingly easy. I used to be capable of break down the design into bitesize options that I used to be capable of concentrate on. I began with a easy sketch on a bit of paper (as a result of I’m old style like that) which allowed me to wrap my head round how I might convert the design digitally. I exploit SolidWorks (one in every of many design software program choices which can be on the market) which is extra of an ‘engineering’ CAD program the place I used to be capable of create the fin design digitally.
Profile Define –
A lot of the fins had an identical define so I took a median of my two favourite fins that I exploit most continuously. The most important consideration to be careful for was to keep away from any overhang better than 35 levels or so to make sure the fin might print with none assist. The fin define was sketched utilizing the ‘spline’ device in SolidWorks on a single aircraft.
Floor and Foil –
For the advanced and natural floor of the fin, the design needed to think about printability and hydrodynamics. A foiled floor is used to create a low stress when transferring by means of a fluid. I do not intend to dive into that too deeply, however I used to be capable of take some measurements off of the fins I had and recreate a foiled floor. The foiled floor was a mix of three splines – two cross sections and a backbone to loft throughout.
Fin Base –
My damaged fin had just a few attachment factors that wanted to be included within the design so the fin hooked up to the surfboard. These small options had been created roughly, and optimized after just a few printed iterations. The fin base options had been created utilizing primary extrusions and cuts.
Left and proper fins –
This is without doubt one of the larger cheats pulled. To design the left fin, the profile of the middle fin was break up in half, tilted at a 5 diploma angle and ensured. The correct fin was mirrored from the left. Hooray for brief cuts!
The Printing Course of:
Materials selections had been more durable than anticipated for this challenge. I attempted many choices: PLA, Nylon, ABS, and PET. On the finish of the day PET and PLA labored nice, my concern with PLA is that it might warp within the solar – however after just a few months of testing, that has not occurred but (fingers nonetheless crossed). Nylon is a powerful materials, however far too versatile to take care of form as a surfboard fin in use and subsequently not advisable for this challenge. ABS had its benefits and I used to be capable of vapor polish the fin properly to create a easy floor, however layer adhesion was an issue.
The perfect performing fin was printed on the Pulse XE machine utilizing NylonX – the mixture of Nylon and Carbon Fiber makes for superb energy and sturdiness with a stiffness that’s unmatched.
Testing:
Ahhh – probably the most satisfying a part of any job. I used to be capable of take out just a few boards – every with completely different 3D printed supplies. The carbon fiber nylon fins that had been printed on the Markforged labored improbable. So nice that they had been useful, sturdy, and really stiff. PLA and PETG fins labored nice as nicely, PLA has the potential to develop into malleable if left within the solar. I acknowledge that danger, however after just a few journeys to the seashore and some afternoons of the fins laying at the back of the truck on a sizzling southern California summer season day – they’ve survived. The nylon solely printed components had been disappointing, the fin design is simply not thick sufficient to be inflexible in nylon. Nylon is versatile when skinny, and if designed thicker could be stiff – surfboard fins don’t look like a superb alternative until paired with the lengthy strand carbon fiber.
Conclusion:
Not solely a enjoyable and satisfying challenge, however an opportunity to contribute to the 3D printing neighborhood in addition to the browsing neighborhood. I’ve uploaded the recordsdata to the MatterHackers Digital Design Retailer and they’re free for anybody to obtain and print for themselves. This can be a challenge that basically highlights the pliability and energy of desktop 3D printing. I used to be capable of design and iterate rapidly whereas engaged on a interest that I’ve quite a lot of ardour for. On the finish of the day 3D printing facilitated the one thing I had in my head as an concept into actuality.
