TNZ AC75 Te Aihe draft 3D Print Project (II)

Team New Zealand Te Aihe draft model & print. Model is the first version I did some months ago. Its always a good feeling seeing the lines you draw coming to a real object, being a real scale F18 or this AC75 model. I made some quick tests without much quality for the hull to see which was the best option. A vertical disposition gives the best results, the quality of the Prusa MK3 is outstanding for a 700us kit I assembled myself.

The foils were the toughest part, at this scale details are lost, so I had to modify thickness and chord length a bit on the cad file to compensate. A larger scale wont be a problem though. Also the intricate shape of thee AC75 foil arms are challenge, finally went for a one shot print with added supports.

Still need to refine foils print details and smoothness, can get them better finish, but to show the platform are good enough.

I will need to get the multimaterial kit to print with soluble print material to get best results.

Overall you can see in the pics I took some mins ago, overall quality is good for a draft print and reduced scale done at 0.20mm for the hull and .15mm for the foils . Rudder is missing, need to modify as noted on thickness as done with the foils.

There are plenty of more professional printers out here, but I can recommend the Prusa MK3 100%. Also any little issue or ways to solve printing methods there is a huge community to help out on feedback.

Next models will AC50/F50 and our Scorpion F18 and maybe TNZ A72 to get some size comparison between them.

  • Printer: Prusa MK3
  • Material: PLA
  • Quality: 0.20mm hull / 0.15mm foils / .30mm draft for cradles
  • Foils print: One Shot + supports
  • Hull Print: Vertical disposition , two parts.
  • Total hours print time: Around +6hs

7 Responses

  1. Caleb says:

    Have you thought about printing the main foils straight then heat forming them to final shape?

    Not sure if it will work but could potentially work really well.

    • Editor says:

      Hi Caleb
      That would be rather a sculpt, and the idea is to print the 3D cads I made. Foils a pretty accurate taking account were done from a few shots on the initial launch. The perfect solution is soluble material and the mutlimaterial kit I don’t have at hand now. But will get them better, main issue is small scale for such a special main foil shape.

      Thanks for the feedback!

  2. Bora Gulari says:

    use a resin printer for the foils

    • Editor says:

      Yes that would be the most effective, detailed and smoothest option for this scale of arms / foils, but none at hand at the moment. Prusa has launched one, will check for next investment. Thanks Bora for the tip.

  3. Torsten Reinauer says:

    Hello is it possible to get the cad files for a scale rebuild?

    regards Torsten

  4. Anonymous says:

    You can check a lot of 2D plans there, unfortunately not the AC75: https://chevaliertaglang.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2020-05-24T11:10:00%2B02:00&max-results=7

  5. Chris LeBlanc says:

    I have access to a nylon sls printer. I could run a set for you if you want. Can post process with crush walnut shell blasting.