Hey Divers!
Just wanted to share the latest diy ROV innovation by @arthur martirosyan . We've been experimenting back and forth for a while with printing props on Arthur's resin printer. I've been really drawn to that option, because (correct me if I'm wrong) Arthur's printer can print layers as thin as 50 microns. That translates to props so smooth that the appear to be injection-molded, minus the seams. So far, the resin printed props have been a bit too brittle to install or use in the field. With the new resin (I'm hoping Arthur can insert brand/link below when he gets a chance), the props are a lot more flexible.
I would be remiss to not mention the composition of this shot. I was excited to try these out to begin with, but now it's just out of hand.
On top of lending the props gorgeous, nearly holographic look, I think this option might also extend our Model C ROVs' battery life. Without the filament layers, I'm expecting the new props should convert a lot less of the motor's power into useless turbulent flow/drag. I'm hoping that this is true, and we'll be able tune the software a bit more to up the battery life with the new resin props.
Now I have a question. Does anyone know whether there are any bioplastics/biodegradable options for resin printing? One of my favorite aspects of the current PLA props is that PLA biodegrades. That way, if you lose a prop in the drink, we know it won't stay there and mess up the trophic levels forever.
Once again, Kudos to @arthur martirosyan for this build. I'll be refilling our test pool this weekend to test these as soon as they arrive.
-Costas
