Technical Challenges to Adopting Large Scale Additive Manufacturing for the Production of Yacht Hulls

Abstract

Recent developments in additive manufacturing technology may initially appear as an emerging opportunity for multiple manufacturing sectors, but there are several serious challenges to the potential application of additive manufacturing with Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) to the yacht design and manufacturing industry. While several boat hulls have been produced using additive manufacturing technologies such as the 3Dirigo demonstration project built at the University of Maine [1], vessels of this type remain experimental prototypes that will require additional testing before the technology proves commercially viable as a construction method. The example of Thermwood’s Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) system to successfully produce a small yacht hull plug mold is a promising application for 3d printing in yacht manufacturing [2]. Other applications of additive manufacturing technology to yacht components have proven viable, especially for small-scale replacement parts and retrofit components [3]. These initial steps into additive manufacturing are promising advances for the yacht design and manufacturing sector, but serious technical challenges remain before FRP hulls can be produced using additive manufacturing technology.