Novel Approach to Manufacture an AUV Propeller by Additive Manufacturing and Error Analysis

Abstract

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is an unmanned tether-free vehicle which is powered by battery or fuel cell. The weight of the AUV is a major issue to be decided when considering its performance. To manufacture a propeller that is lighter in weight and able to carry the pressure applied to the blades is an involving process. The present study investigates the performance of the propeller of an AUV, manufactured by additive manufacturing, using ABS plastic material. The propeller blade designed in SolidWorks was transferred to the CUBPRO (DUO), followed by setting the parameters for a 3D printing machine. A comparative study was carried out for ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) material between the required dimensions and a 3D printed model dimension propeller blade. An error analysis was carried out and we observed that ABS material is the most suitable for an AUV propeller. A stress-strain analysis for the propeller was carried out using the Finite Element Method.