- What was needed: a two-piece rudder bearing
- Manufacturing method: selective laser sintering (SLS)
- Requirements: split design, functionality in seawater, good fit
- Material: iglidur i3
- Industry: ship building
- Success due to cooperation: fast production and delivery within three weeks, more cost-effective by a factor of 20 compared to the alternative made of seawater-resistant metal alloys, improved steering behaviour
The application at a glance: The lower rudder bearing of an Albin Delta sailing boat had broken and needed to be replaced. However, the customer could not get a spare part without problems as the manufacturer of the boat went out of business several years ago. In addition, the dimensions used in the original design are not common nowadays, and with the split design of the bearing chances of obtaining an alternative spare part are very low. Thanks to the online offerings from igus, the customer was able to configure a bearing that met the requirements of the old bearing within two hours. After a short time, it was clear that the new bearing had significantly improved the steering behaviour. Customer statement: "For me, a perfect example of Industry 4.0. From the problem definition to the real solution of a highly customised design task, it merely took three weeks, and only two hours were spent on the computer."