Reverse Engineering Through Patternless Casting: T.991 Marine Propeller
A technical article published by the Naval Dockyard Department of the Royal Thai Navy documenting how a keyless marine propeller for the T.991 vessel series was reproduced through reverse engineering and patternless sand casting, with Speed 3D Mold Co., Ltd. named as the private-sector collaborator.
Commander Noppadol Tanwattana (นาวาโท นพดล ตันวัฒนะ), Naval Dockyard Department, Royal Thai Navy
Royal Thai Naval Dockyard Department Journal · 2016 (B.E. 2559)
Back to Research & PublicationsPublication Record
- Article title (English)
- Reverse Engineering Through Patternless Casting: T.991 Marine Propeller
- Article title (Thai)
- การทำวิศวกรรมย้อนรอยด้วยการหล่อแบบ Patternless
- Author
- Commander Noppadol Tanwattana (นาวาโท นพดล ตันวัฒนะ), Naval Dockyard Department, Royal Thai Navy
- Publication
- Royal Thai Naval Dockyard Department Journal
- Year
- 2016 (B.E. 2559)
- Language
- Thai
The article was written and published independently by the Naval Dockyard Department, Royal Thai Navy. Speed 3D Mold Co., Ltd. is named in the article as the private-sector company involved in the reverse-engineering and patternless casting work. Publication does not imply endorsement of Speed 3D Mold by the Royal Thai Navy.
Why reverse engineering was required
Marine propellers installed on existing vessels are frequently supplied without complete manufacturing data. The article describes the propeller for the T.991 vessel series as a component that had to be reproduced from the physical part itself, using reverse engineering rather than original drawings.
The article frames this capability in the context of reducing dependence on imported spare parts and shortening the waiting time associated with sourcing replacement components from overseas — the same constraint that drives replacement casting engineering in industrial maintenance work.
The work described took place in fiscal year 2014 (B.E. 2557) and was published in the journal in 2016.
Component data reported in the article
- Component
- Keyless propeller, T.991 vessel series
- Material
- Nickel aluminium bronze (NiAlCu / C95800)
- Reported weight
- 644 kg
- Expanded blade area ratio
- 1.1
- Pitch ratio at 0.7R
- 1.175
- Printed mould sections
- 28
All values above are as reported in the 2016 journal article and relate to that specific component. They are not general specifications for propeller casting.
Workflow described in the article
- 3D optical scanningThe existing propeller was captured by optical 3D scanning to record the blade surfaces as measured geometry rather than as assumed nominal dimensions.
- CAD reconstructionThe scan data was reconstructed into a solid CAD model of the propeller, providing a manufacturable digital definition of the component.
- Casting simulationThe casting layout was evaluated using SolidCast simulation to review filling and solidification behaviour before mould production.
- 3D sand printingThe mould was produced directly from the digital data on an ExOne S-Max binder-jet sand printer, without wooden patterns.
- Mould assemblyThe article reports a printed mould system of 28 sections, numbered and assembled to form the complete propeller cavity and gating.
- Casting and finishingThe propeller was cast in nickel aluminium bronze and finished, producing the replacement component shown in the article.
The finished propeller
The article documents the completed keyless propeller cast in nickel aluminium bronze from the 3D sand printed mould system, produced without a wooden pattern at any stage of the process.
The conclusion of the article emphasises that complete reverse engineering — rather than approximate copying — is what makes locally produced replacement components suitable for naval repair work, and that collaboration with private-sector partners holding the necessary knowledge and technology is central to achieving it.
This page summarises work reported in a 2016 publication. It is a record of that project and not a performance guarantee for other components, alloys or vessels.
From documented project to current engineering work
The scanning, CAD reconstruction, simulation and 3D sand printing sequence described in the article remains the basis of how Speed 3D Mold approaches replacement components today. Each project is evaluated according to its own geometry, material and operating requirements.
Citation and rights attribution
Tanwattana, N. "การทำวิศวกรรมย้อนรอยด้วยการหล่อแบบ Patternless" (Reverse Engineering Through Patternless Casting). Royal Thai Naval Dockyard Department Journal, 2016 (B.E. 2559).
Copyright in the original article and its figures remains with the Naval Dockyard Department, Royal Thai Navy, and the author. Selected figures are reproduced here solely to document the published record. This page is an English summary prepared by Speed 3D Mold and is not a translation approved by the publisher.
Discuss a Replacement Component
Have a propeller, impeller or casing with no drawings available? Discuss the component requirements with our engineering team.
