Billet stainless props. Has it been done?

Jcary85 · Tuesday at 12:36 AM

Props are an issue in our hobby. Way too expensive for what they are and way too inconsistent. This is on my to-do list for CAD drawings. Shouldn’t be a hard part to cast but curious if anyone has ever done a prop machined out of billet stainless? It’s certainly 5 axis work, but really not too bad to machine.

Thanks in advance!
-Jordan

fastgtfairlane · Tuesday at 10:20 AM

I feel like the difficult part would be keeping the blades from deflecting once you get closer to finish thickness and diameter.

Big Kahuna · Tuesday at 11:59 AM

That makes my head hurt trying to think about how you would program that!!!!!!!!!!!!

kevbo · Tuesday at 1:09 PM

I know a cheaper way of making propellers is welding blades on the hub. This would probably work for iimpellers as well. Investment casting is cheap enough as long as we have third world labor.

Jcary85 · Tuesday at 2:51 PM

Big Kahuna said:
That makes my head hurt trying to think about how you would program that!!!!!!!!!!!!

Programming it is easy. Modeling it is a bit more tricky but I’m almost done. Pictures incoming soon…

mikesx · Tuesday at 3:29 PM

Jcary85 said:
Props are an issue in our hobby. Way too expensive for what they are and way too inconsistent. This is on my to-do list for CAD drawings. Shouldn’t be a hard part to cast but curious if anyone has ever done a prop machined out of billet stainless? It’s certainly 5 axis work, but really not too bad to machine.

Thanks in advance!
-Jordan

How about additive titanium props…..think they’d hold up?

Quinc · Tuesday at 4:48 PM

when are going to start seeing jetski impellers like this?

Storbeck · Tuesday at 4:52 PM

I was thinking just modeling that sounds tricky let alone machining, but I'm not a machinist.

wsuwrhr · Tuesday at 5:18 PM

The market would be very small for a 3000 plus "dolir" impeller in the jet ski "worl". Props are already machined out of SS billet, and have been for decades. 2, 3, 4, 5 and even some 6 blades. They come out of a nice fitted box and go on the propshaft right before the boat is launched and come right back off and go back into the handling box when the boat comes out of the water. They are 5k to 25K. It only takes money. Who is ready?

wsuwrhr · Tuesday at 5:26 PM

fastgtfairlane said:
I feel like the difficult part would be keeping the blades from deflecting once you get closer to finish thickness and diameter.

Depending on the design, operation, (3/4 or 5 axis)the vane/blade is sometimes supported from the opposite side with a "negative" surface

waxhead · Tuesday at 5:43 PM

Quinc said:
when are going to start seeing jetski impellers like this?
View attachment 455977

I looked at thiose and its seems that the gain was because it stopped the spill of the end. but a pump liner does that already. Would be cool to make one and give it a try

Quinc · Tuesday at 5:44 PM

waxhead said:
I looked at thiose and its seems that the gain was because it stopped the spill of the end. but a pump liner does that already. Would be cool to make one and give it a try

Have you played with 3d printing impellers?

waxhead · Tuesday at 5:55 PM

Quinc said:
Have you played with 3d printing impellers?

As in metal printing or just plastic ?? I havent done any but i reckon 3d printing metal could be an option

Jcary85 · Tuesday at 10:27 PM

wsuwrhr said:
The market would be very small for a 3000 plus "dolir" impeller in the jet ski "worl". Props are already machined out of SS billet, and have been for decades. 2, 3, 4, 5 and even some 6 blades. They come out of a nice fitted box and go on the propshaft right before the boat is launched and come right back off and go back into the handling box when the boat comes out of the water. They are 5k to 25K. It only takes money. Who is ready?

Nah the retail cost on these would be less than new impellers are selling for right now. People are just taking advantage of the small market with their pricing. It’s kinda foolish because it leaves the door open for somebody like me to come in and offer something affordable and higher quality. We will see. This wasn’t as easy to model as I hoped but I’m close.

joeschuit · Wednesday at 7:54 AM

I'm picturing a chunk of 300 series stainless billet round 6-1/2" diameter 4"ish tall would cost $200. Weighing 38 pounds and being machined down to 5 pounds. Plus post processing. Sounds like a 1k-1.5k prop to me.

Jcary85 · Wednesday at 10:03 AM

Getting there. Made it configurable for different leading/trailing angle as well as hub diameter and overall diameter

JetManiac · Wednesday at 10:18 AM

Jcary85 said:
Getting there. Made it configurable for different leading/trailing angle as well as hub diameter and overall diameter

nerd fingers included?

Storbeck · Wednesday at 10:36 AM

I've always kinda wondered if the shape of the impellers we buy is based on some sort of science or if somebody carved up something that looked like an impeller.

Same for pumps and nozzles.

JetManiac · Wednesday at 10:56 AM

Storbeck said:
I've always kinda wondered if the shape of the impellers we buy is based on some sort of science or if somebody carved up something that looked like an impeller.

Same for pumps and nozzles.

I think it starts with science and theory, then modified with real world testing.

wsuwrhr · Wednesday at 10:58 AM

Jcary85 said:
Nah the retail cost on these would be less than new impellers are selling for right now. People are just taking advantage of the small market with their pricing. It’s kinda foolish because it leaves the door open for somebody like me to come in and offer something affordable and higher quality. We will see. This wasn’t as easy to model as I hoped but I’m close.

Awesome. Good luck in your venture grasshoppa.

Also I want to save your post for later, when you get them into production.

Billet stainless props. Has it been done?

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