Sydney Hobart supermaxi built with mouldCAM
by Jane Mussared on 18 Dec 2007
City Index Leopard during practice sailing in Sydney before the 2007 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Andrea Francolini Photography
http://www.afrancolini.com/
mouldCAM provided a world first solution to assist the build of City Index Leopard, launched in the UK in June 2007 as one of the most stylish and technologically advanced yachts ever and a leading contender in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart race.
mouldCAM’s managing Director, Toby Whitfield said today, 'Our CNC (computer numerical control) technology translated the design with such accuracy that virtually no further fairing was required. By ensuring perfection in shape, we saved both final weight and critical production time.'
'We have been able to produce a unique CNC cut female mould as a single skin, without the usual thermal insulation of a CNC mould,' Toby Whitfield continued. 'Until now, mouldmakers have made a male shape and taken the mould from that. But we have been able to make a direct cut female mould, which we can take to 110º. This means that the mould can be heated to match the latest carbon technology.'
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] Further, by outsourcing the deck mould to mouldCAM, the boat builder could complete City Index Leopard to a minimal time frame – due to the scale of the boat, the hull and deck could not be built in the same oven – and could employ his skilled workers to build boats, not make moulds.
'This is a new way of building boats. Having been thrown the ball by an Australian boat building company, we have been able to onsell the technology worldwide,' Toby concluded.
mouldCAM has subsequently applied this specialised CAD/CAM and CNC technology to other world class yachting projects – such as Thomas Coville’s Sodeb’O and Abramovich’s Allseas Tenders built by Green Marine UK – and are currently completing Nahema, a 35 metre catamaran for a French client.
Further diversification into aeronautical and defense applications are developing as increasingly carbon and composite building techniques are the medium of choice.
For further information
Toby Whitfield, Managing Director, mouldCAM
Phone + 61 7 3348 4233
Mobile +61 424 208 828
Media enquiry
Jane Mussared, Mussared Communications
+ 61 404 852 813
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