Direction Rotterdam to discover the innovations of 3D printing
Among these companies is the Dutch start-up RAW Idea BV, which recently developed the Tanaruz project. The latter aims to offer users the possibility of designing, via an application, their own boat and personalizing it according to their wishes. Then, with regard to manufacturing, the company is committed to printing it in 3D from its premises located in Rotterdam.
Four customizable designs available
Currently, the application offers four different models, which are distinguished in particular by their length. And depending on the size chosen, the number of people that can be accommodated on the boat varies between 3 and 8. In addition, the hull can be customized and its size can be between 4.50 and 7.50 meters. App users can also choose whether they prefer to have an inside cabin or not. As you probably suspect, the price of the boat is not fixed and varies between 20,000 and 60,000 euros depending on the options determined. Although the price may seem high, RAW Idea BV guarantees that the boat can sail without problems for a distance of 30 kilometers
A sustainable project
If RAW Idea BV turned to 3D printing, it was to offer the Tanaruz project a sustainable and customizable dimension. Regarding the materials used, the company entrusts the use of recycled polypropylene, reinforced with fiberglass, in order to provide high mechanical properties to the boat. For example, it would be able to resist heat and fire, but also chemicals. For printing, RAW Idea BV uses an LFAM robot system, which has a multi-axis robot arm. Specially designed for this purpose, it would be perfectly adapted to all the parameters available during the design of the boat. According to those involved in the project, the robotic arm would notably allow precise and rapid printing of parts – most hulls can be manufactured in just 40 hours. For those who would like to use the services of RAW Idea BV to obtain a personalized boat, the application is already available free of charge for iOS and Android users. Source: 3DNatives