A Parametric Method to Customize Surfboard and Stand Up Paddle Board Fins for Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

At all levels of sporting competition, from recreational to elite, athletes desire products that improve their performance, comfort, safety, or enjoyment. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, provides a new method of producing sporting equipment that can be customized to the unique needs of an individual. This study examines the opportunity to produce surfboard and stand up paddle (SUP) board fins through 3D printing and details a parametric computer-aided design (CAD) system for surfers to modify the geometry of a surf fin in real-time. Specifically, the fin system, fin position on the board, cant, fin depth, sweep, base length, base foil profile, tip sharpness, tip thickness, as well as the overall dimensions can be modified using simple interactive controls that do not require any CAD experience. Indicative cost data was collected for ten virtual fins designed through this system intended for fused filament fabrication (FFF), selective laser sintering (SLS) and multi jet fusion (MJF) technologies. Two designs were 3D printed and trialled on a SUP board. The method of creating the parametric system is sufficiently detailed in order to be replicable and built upon by designers, with future research directions outlined in order to improve surfing performance and extend the well-established culture of experimentation within the sport.