At A Glance
Estimated Read Time: 2 min.
This month’s featured part is the SLA toroidal propeller. A sleek, aerodynamic piece that highlights the precision and smooth surface quality achievable with Stereolithography (SLA) printing. Chosen by Janina Wu, this part showcases how advanced materials and innovative design come together to create something that’s both functional and visually striking.
About The Print
This month’s featured part is one that’s equal parts cool and functional: the SLA toroidal propeller. Sleek, aerodynamic, and surprisingly fun to spin, this propeller doesn’t just look good, it shows off the precision and performance that Stereolithography (SLA) printing can achieve.
Janina Wu, Business Operations Assistant, chose this part because it highlights a technology she’s especially excited about. Stereolithraphy’s ability to produce ultra-smooth surfaces and intricate details makes it agreat choice for many industries.
Printed on the Neo 450 using Somos WaterShed XC 11122, this toroidal propeller perfectly demonstrates the accuracy, clarity, and that SLA delivers. Janina took a guess that the print would take about 12 hours, but the Neo 450 completed it in just seven hours, proving not only its precision, but also efficiency.
Somos WaterShed XC 11122
Easy to use and finish, superior moisture resistance, & exceptional clarity.
Color: Clear
Tensile Strength: 50.4 MPa
Elongation at Break: 15.5%
Tensile Modulus: 2770 MPa
HDT @ 0.46 MPa: 50°C
What sets it apart?
“It’s fun to play with, it looks cool, it’s a functional thing,” Janina says as she gives the propeller a spin. “Look at that curve, that’s a good curve.”
Beyond its looks, the design of the toroidal propeller itself is fascinating. Its looped blades help stop strong, swirling air from forming at the tips, which makes it quieter and safer to use. These qualities make toroidal propellers ideal for noise-sensitive environments, aerial inspections, cinematography, and even maritime and industrial applications where reducing turbulence and improving efficiency are key.
SLA’s versatility goes far beyond propellers. Janina notes that it’s used for many applications, from consumer products to air flow analysis. “If you downsized it,” she jokes, “you could even make a fidget spinner.”
W.W.J.P. (What would Janina print?)
Janina is the newest addition to the Purple Platypus team. When she’s not exploring new 3D printing technologies, Janina enjoys spending time with her three-legged dog. With a background in teaching coding and STEM to kids, she brings a creative and curious addition to the Purple team. If she could print anything, she says she would make a cast of her dog’s missing leg.
So, what would you print?
Meet Janina Wu
Meet Janina Wu, Business Operations Assistant at Purple. Janina has enjoyed getting to know everyone and her favorite part about Purple is the company culture and getting to work in the 3D printing space.
Out of the office, Janina enjoys indoor climbing, cooking, and hanging out with her dog. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Janina, make sure to stop by the office to say hi or connect with her on LinkedIn!
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