March’s Part of the Month is a perfect example of how 3D printing can be used for aerodynamic testing. This month is brought to you by me, and I’m highlighting a PerFORM Reflect airfoil model that Gulf Wind Technology printed on the Neo 800 for wind tunnel testing.
Why This Part?
So, why did I pick this one? Well, it’s not just because it’s cool and orange—although that definitely caught my attention. I chose this part because it was designed and created by a real company, who faced a new challenge and needed to come up with a new solution.
Gulf Wind Technology focuses on developing rotor design solutions to tackle current wind turbine limitations and prepare for future needs. 3D printing played a huge role in helping Gulf Wind Technology achieve their goals. Here’s how:
- Faster Design and Fabrication: 3D printing shortened the design and fabrication cycle, speeding up the process of iterating and finalizing designs.
- Pressure Taps Built In: Engineers could easily incorporate pressure taps directly into the models. These taps are essential for gathering performance data and would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to include with traditional machining or molding methods.
- Small Ports for Essential Data: The ability to create small ports within the airfoil allowed Gulf Wind to capture crucial performance data. These ports are essential for accurate wind tunnel testing, and again, would be tough to incorporate into a machined or molded model.
When Gulf Wind turned to SLA technology, it was the perfect solution for their testing needs, thanks to its large build chamber and impressive accuracy. However, what truly made the difference was not just precision, but time. Printing the exact same airfoil with the Neo 800 was 2.5 to 5 times faster compared to using composite lay-ups or CNC machining. Time is a huge advantage especially in the testing phase.
Why PerFORM Reflect?
PerFORM Reflect is the ideal material for wind tunnel testing, due to its strength, stiffness, and temperature resistance. These properties make it tough enough to handle the wind speeds, loads, and high surface temperatures the models face during testing.
And yes, the bright orange color isn’t just for looks. It’s chosen because it helps minimize light distortion and optimize particle reflection, which is key for accurate PIV (particle imaging velocimetry) testing. Other materials would need to be coated after printing to achieve this effect, adding extra time to the process. With PerFORM Reflect, Gulf Wind got exactly what they needed, right out of the printer.
By embracing additive manufacturing, Gulf Wind Technology is not just speeding up their processes, they’re also helping create a greener, more sustainable future. It shows how 3D printing is changing the game, making designs faster, more efficient, and ultimately pushing the industry toward smarter, more sustainable technology.
Meet Jennifer Araiza
Meet Jennifer Araiza, our Marketing Outreach Specialist. Jennifer’s primary focus is on prospecting, but also supports a variety of other marketing tasks, including maintaining the company website, social media, and events. What she loves most about working at Purple is the amazing people and the vibrant company culture!
When she’s not at work, Jennifer enjoys working out, playing pool, and going to the beach. If you haven’t already, be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn!
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