Gulf Wind Technology

3D printing at Gulf Wind Technology

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Using Stratasys SLA technology, Gulf Wind Technology designs and tests its wind turbine rotors in a fraction of the time it used to take, as Emilie Eisenberg reports


Gulf Wind Technology has been manufacturing wind turbine rotors since 2021, with a team of specialised engineers improving wind turbine design across North America from its factory in Mississippi.

As America’s only independent wind turbine rotor technology solution provider, Gulf Wind Technology prides itself on its state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

A recently announced partnership with 3D printing company Stratasys has seen the introduction of additive manufacturing to its arsenal, in order to test and improve rotor models.

Gulf Wind Technology
Test models are vital to achieving maximum energy efficiency in turbines

In particular, the company is implementing Stratasys Neo stereolithography (SLA) technology, with the goal of reducing the design and fabrication cycle for wind tunnel models, from between 30 to 40 days to just three to four days.

Introducing additive manufacturing technology to the workflow also allows for the creation of specialised features such as pressure taps for real-time airflow data, which were previously difficult or impossible to execute using conventional manufacturing methods.

Gulf Wind Technology – Test models

With additive manufacturing, engineers can design internal structures and pressure taps directly into test models.

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These models are produced using the Somos Perform Reflect material, which offers high strength, stiffness and temperature resistance, all of which are important in wind tunnel testing. They can then be used for testing aerofoil shapes and rotor designs more rapidly, resulting in the maximisation of wind energy efficiency.

The team at Gulf Wind Technology was inspired by the use of additive manufacturing in Formula 1 racing, where teams print precise parts in order to save time, which they can then spend making countless adjustments to the cars before they are shipped to each race.

“Our work with Gulf Wind Technology demonstrates how manufacturers are adopting additive manufacturing where it makes the most sense for their business,” says Rich Garrity, chief business unit officer at Stratasys.

“Gulf Wind Technology can rapidly prototype and test complex designs, greatly improving its efficiency and ability to innovate. This is a perfect example of how 3D printing is expanding its place on the manufacturing floor alongside traditional methods.”

With 3D printing, engineers can build internal structures directly into test models

This article first appeared in DEVELOP3D Magazine

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