A strategic partnership has been formed between three Midwestern corporations to produce a prototype for a new vertical axis wind powered generator.
The corporations in this partnership are Mankind Designs LLC dba Airfoil Generators of Horicon, Wisconsin; Humtown Products Inc. of Columbiana, Ohio, an industry leader in manufacturing conventional and 3D printed sand cores and molds for the foundry industry; and Watry Industries LLC of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a specialist in ready-to-assemble complex permanent and semi-permanent mold castings.
To test its new wind generator, Airfoil Generators needs to build a working prototype of its patented design. One of the biggest challenges has been fabricating the rotor.
This part is 4.7 feet in diameter and has five helical vanes spanning the length of it. The rotor needs to have near-perfect concentricity and balance, be lightweight, and hold tight tolerances. These factors have made prototyping and manufacturing of that part difficult and costly.
Watry Industries and its 3D printed mold supplier, Humtown Products, have selected this project to demonstrate the rapid prototyping processes they have created together.
This collaboration will allow Humtown and Watry to create a service delivery model for their customers, showing the benefits of integration of their capabilities early in the development process.
“This is a win-win-win for all involved,” said Carl Fausett, CEO of Mankind Designs LLC, the parent company of Airfoil Generators. “Our manufacturing challenge has become a halo product for Watry and Humtown, an ideal vehicle for them to flex their muscles on a difficult-to-make piece; showing the world the latest techniques in casting.”
More info www.airfoilgen.com | www.humtown.com
