The company CamGau, based in the port of Nice, has created the E-Safran, an electric propulsion system adapted to “pointus” and other barquettes from Marseilles. Many parts printed with volumic 3D printers are used for this device, including the propeller.
Indeed the electric motorization requires particular propellers because of the high speeds of rotation. This propeller printed in PETg filled with short carbon fibers is realized on Volumic 3D printers. This material offers exceptional properties due to the combination of PETg and carbon: high mechanical resistance, rigidity to abrasion, water and UV.
Due to the geometry of the part and the required properties, only 3D printing was able to create and validate this new helix shape, which was difficult and expensive to produce with a mold or by machining.
This innovation made it possible to reduce the costs for a small series production, long tests and of endurance were carried out on the shuttle “Lou Passagin” which sails 9 hours per day during 6 months and this since now 5 years. With many landing maneuvers that put a lot of stress on the propeller.
