Official Presentation of 3D Printed Sail Boat for Mini Transat Ocean Race 2019

The hull of the world’s first 3D printed sail boat was unveiled and introduced during a ceremony at the sailing club Circolo della Vela Sicilia (CVS), Italy. The revolutionary boat is designed and produced by OCore, an innovative Italian start-up dedicated to new manufacturing technologies. This challenging project is sponsored and supported by several companies, including Autodesk and the LEHVOSS Group.

Prior to the presentation of the boat and after the opening remarks of the sailing club, president Agostino Randazzo, OCore and  the project partners gave a detailed overview of the concept and the technologies involved.

The body and other functional parts of the 6.5-m-long ocean racer boat are manufactured by 3D printing. “OCore, supported by the project partners, has developed a dedicated technology”, said Daniele Cevola, Managing Director of OCore. “This includes a robot, software and printing technology, including the print head. OCore succeeded in developing a material deposition system that, using the logic of a proprietary algorithm, replicates organic and morphologically complex structures. This provides lightness and resistance to a boat that could not be built in any other way.” The concept involves the integration of digital production processes to create large components and enable simplified production processes, reduced production costs, improved flexibility of production and reduction of time to the market for products.

The LEHVOSS Group developed the customized material for this project: LUVOCOM® 3F PAHT CF, a high-performance polyamide, reinforced with carbon fibers. The compound provides high stiffness, strength and low weight, which are precisely the properties needed for this application. Furthermore, it is optimized for 3D printing, allowing high Z-layer strength. “We are proud to be a partner in this exciting project and happy to be providing support with our material and processing know-how”, said Thomas Collet, Director Marketing of LEHVOSS.

The boat will start the first sailing tests in the sea in early 2019 after the actual launch.