Silver manus® 2019 - Sports catamaran

The task was to design a mechanical flight control system for a hydrofoil sailing ship. Electronic or hydraulic solutions are only the second choice, as they require energy storage and supply, to name just a few of the challenges. Various products from the igubal® and drylin® product groups now ensure the function of the "iFLY15" sports catamaran, a sailing boat that lifts itself completely out of the water on hydrofoils.

Tight tolerances for the required control precision and high reliability of the components are absolute prerequisites. The components must be able to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions, such as humidity, extreme temperature fluctuations, impact loads from floating debris and much more. The absence of lubricants is of particular importance: on the one hand, the bearings should be maintenance-free, as maintenance is practically non-existent in everyday life. On the other hand, lubrication would bind dust and sand from the ship's berth and quickly damage the bearing. As this is an application in a recreational sports device for private individuals, the design must remain affordable. The igus® products fulfil these requirements.