Uploaded March 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In search for original and fun ways to do 'real world tests' of the latest 3d printing materials on offer that can be printed with a desktop 3D Printer, 3D Printing Systems and Clone3D decided to draw on past experience and contacts in the marine industry to perform an unscientific but intriguing look at not only the strength of a printed part but the process in which 3D printed parts are created.
The abilities of a modern well designed desktop 3D printer are in a lot of cases lost on newcomers to the technology, the huge array of materials and myths that float around them is definitely a minefield, not to mention the environment some materials require to printed in, heated bed, heated chamber and separate support materials are in some cases a necessity for a successful print. Bruce and Hayden did not want the tests to be carried out on a 100k plus 3D printer but rather a well regarded consumer desktop printer, this did limit the material selection slightly however as you will see great results are achievable.
They decided to team up and put together a somewhat educational video (and to see for themselves) what are the potentials and limits of different 3d printing materials. The material selection was ABS, Wood, Polycarbonate and Carbon Fibre. When they first started out in search of good materials for a replaceable boat propeller, wood was never originally going to be included, it was more for a laugh than anything else. Com'on really, a wooden boat propeller!
Bruce from 3DPrintingSystems.com 3d scanned an aluminium boat prop from a 15HP Yamaha outboard motor using the EinScan-S, also known as ScanMaster Plus in Australia. The resulting scan was exceptional, in the video you'll see it even captured the serial number etched into the original prop.
The scanner was not able to view the internal core/spline of the propeller so Sarah of Idea Beans modelled this in her CAD software, the scan and the core were then merged together to form a solid digital prop ready for 3D printing.
Hayden from Clone3D printed the propellers in the various materials with a solid fill at 0.25mm layers using the UP BOX 3D printer. Hayden runs a 3D print service in New Zealand but with 20 years past experience in the marine industry it will come as no surprise that he produces many 3D printed parts for the industry.
Bruce and Hayden then did a bunch of bench testing with the different props as you can see in the video with some surprising results. The propellers that made it through testing in one piece were then taken to the ocean, the 15hp motor was bolted to a 12ft inflatable and each propeller/material was given its chance to shine.
The video is a worth-while watch, it provides a unique insight into the different materials and the performance of them, it's just that little bit more intelligent than a printed part vs. hammer, and while it is not the first time a wooden boat propeller has been used it is certainly the first time a 3D printed boat propeller has been scanned, printed, tested and proven to work!
After a hard day’s work one of the team win a case of beers!
In search for original and fun ways to do 'real world tests' of the latest 3d printing materials on offer that can be printed with a desktop 3D Printer, 3D Printing Systems and Clone3D decided to draw on past experience and contacts in the marine industry to perform an unscientific but intriguing look at not only the strength of a printed part but the process in which 3D printed parts are created.
The abilities of a modern well designed desktop 3D printer are in a lot of cases lost on newcomers to the technology, the huge array of materials and myths that float around them is definitely a minefield, not to mention the environment some materials require to printed in, heated bed, heated chamber and separate support materials are in some cases a necessity for a successful print. Bruce and Hayden did not want the tests to be carried out on a 100k plus 3D printer but rather a well regarded consumer desktop printer, this did limit the material selection slightly however as you will see great results are achievable.
They decided to team up and put together a somewhat educational video (and to see for themselves) what are the potentials and limits of different 3d printing materials. The material selection was ABS, Wood, Polycarbonate and Carbon Fibre. When they first started out in search of good materials for a replaceable boat propeller, wood was never originally going to be included, it was more for a laugh than anything else. Com'on really, a wooden boat propeller!
Bruce from 3DPrintingSystems.com 3d scanned an aluminium boat prop from a 15HP Yamaha outboard motor using the EinScan-S, also known as ScanMaster Plus in Australia. The resulting scan was exceptional, in the video you'll see it even captured the serial number etched into the original prop.
The scanner was not able to view the internal core/spline of the propeller so Sarah of Idea Beans modelled this in her CAD software, the scan and the core were then merged together to form a solid digital prop ready for 3D printing.
Hayden from Clone3D printed the propellers in the various materials with a solid fill at 0.25mm layers using the UP BOX 3D printer. Hayden runs a 3D print service in New Zealand but with 20 years past experience in the marine industry it will come as no surprise that he produces many 3D printed parts for the industry.
Bruce and Hayden then did a bunch of bench testing with the different props as you can see in the video with some surprising results. The propellers that made it through testing in one piece were then taken to the ocean, the 15hp motor was bolted to a 12ft inflatable and each propeller/material was given its chance to shine.
The video is a worth-while watch, it provides a unique insight into the different materials and the performance of them, it's just that little bit more intelligent than a printed part vs. hammer, and while it is not the first time a wooden boat propeller has been used it is certainly the first time a 3D printed boat propeller has been scanned, printed, tested and proven to work!
After a hard day’s work one of the team win a case of beers!
