Class society Bureau Veritas (BV) reports that it has certified a new-generation 3D-printed propeller manufactured by Naval Group, the largest metal 3D-printed propeller ever manufactured.
With its 2.5-metre span supported by five 200-kg blades, the propeller was manufactured using a metal Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing process and is now mounted on a Tripartite-class military minehunter, the first propeller made using 3D-printing technology to equip a military ship in operation.
“Including Bureau Veritas from the very beginning was vital for us to reach our goal of bringing the WAAM (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) process from its research & development stage to actionable industrial standards,” said Emmanuel Chol, Director at the Naval Group.
“In this regard, we are very proud to have obtained BV’s certification of the 3D-printed propeller blades, reflecting the industrial maturity of Naval Group as well as our capacity to meet the highest and most rigorous of standards.”
