Small steam tug

[PeteThePen1]

Well done Rolph

That looks like some excllent work. I also like to see that you are applying 3D CAD to our hobby. I bet our Edwardian forebears would have loved to have a tool like that.

I wondered what material you are using for the core piece of your propeller. From the photo it looks like plastic but I would wonder if plastic would be strong enough for the job. Presumably it is painted metal.

Good luck with the next stages and do tell us what happens.

Regards

Pete

[rolphill]

It's starting to look more like a boat. And the propeller is starting to look more like a proper propeller, or propereller.

IMG_1520.jpg (186.68 KiB) Viewed 56 times

Yeah, the hub is currently PLA, as I haven't had a chance to machine one out of aluminum yet. It's a pain to drill and tap those angled holes so far deep past the rest of the part, I really only use stub drills and I don't have any extended length taps. On the 2 blade hub I actually drilled and tapped those holes from underneath. However the PLA should hold up to the low forces (<50lbf 300rpm) anyways, especially since the forces work to push the blade mounting points into the hub. If it was machined plastic I would trust it 100% after all at these forces.