Modelling paste provides plugs for high-tech boat
A
Huntsman Advanced Materials product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Feb 21, 2007
RenPaste XD 4618-1 R/H seamless modelling paste is being used to build the plugs used for mould production of the Hydroptere Flying Trimaran's wing floats.
RenPaste XD 4618-1 R/H seamless modelling paste (SMP) was developed by Huntsman Advanced Materials specially for marine applications.
It enables marine model makers and shipbuilders to produce almost any marine model from large hulls and decks (up to 36m in length) to highly specialist applications for racing and competition craft.
The paste has been used in Hydroptere Flying Trimaran.
RenPaste is being used to build the plugs used for mould production of the sailing boat's wing floats by the Swiss-based composite prototyping consultancy, Decision SA, which has previously built prototypes for future winners of the Whitbread Round the World Maxi-yacht Race and the America' Cup.
Normally, marine plugs are made from traditional materials such as wood and it is a highly skilled and labour-intensive task.
However by using RenPaste SMP combined with the latest CAD controlled milling technology, significant time and development cost savings can be achieved.
The plug design for the Hydroptere floats is broken down into a number of component parts and converted into milling data files which guide the CNC milling machine.
These CAD files are transmitted from Decision to its CNC subcontractor, Imhof and Fils, who use them to machine slightly undersized polystyrene foam (EPS) cores of each plug component.
RenPaste XD 4618-1 R/H is then applied by a special mix/meter machine over the EPS cores and left to cure at room temperature.
Once cured, the RenPaste model is dimensionally stable with a solid surface particularly well suited to CNC milling.
For the Hydroptere plug, the SMP layer is milled back in two passes (rough forming plus finishing) to produce the final surface of the plug components.
The parts are then delivered to Decision where they are sanded, finished and bonded together to form the complete plug.
The plug is then prepared for mould production and infused under vacuum.
"We found the RenPaste XD 4618-1 delivered several benefits over other production techniques" explained Bertrand Cardis, Manager and EPFL Engineer, at Decision SA.
"It has proved much more durable than low-density foam plugs and it is easy to machinel, producing an exceptionally high-quality surface finish".
"It produces dimensionally stable, highly accurate parts and has low vacuum permeability - very important for our vacuum moulding processes".
The SMP plugs were used to construct the component moulds at Decision which were then used to make the final parts, delivered to the Hydroptere project.
Total timescale for the project was under six months.
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