High-tech hinge mechanism for Solar Boat Twente
To make the latest SolarBoat (solar boat) foil – or “fly” across the water – even faster and more efficiently, the Solar Boat Twente student team needs a crucial mechanical component: a hinge mechanism for the hydrofoil system. This mechanism allows the team to precisely adjust the angle of the hydrofoils under the boat, thereby regulating its buoyancy. An essential technology for optimal performance during the race!
Place: Twente
Customer: Solar Boat Twente
Product: Hinge mechanism
Design: Students University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences
Machining/expertise: Precision machining
The challenge: a lighter, more complex design
Although the original design could have been retained, the team opted to have a new and optimised hinge produced. Two different variants were developed, one of which was significantly thinner than the previous edition. This immediately brought a production challenge:
✅ Less support, more vibration – Because a lot of material had to be removed, the product had little support and could vibrate during machining.
✅ Precision machining on a 5-axis milling machine – To minimise these vibrations, the product was precisely centred in the machine clamp. This allowed simultaneous material removal and maintained stability.
✅ Aerodynamic design with rounded shapes – To minimise water resistance, the hinge is fully equipped with rounded corners and curves. This could only be achieved with a ball mill and extremely precise milling paths, programmed via advanced CAM software.
The result: high-performance parts for the champion boat!
Thanks to Pillen Precision’s expertise and precision technology, two perfectly streamlined hinge mechanisms were produced. This puts Solar Boat Twente in the best position to get the maximum performance out of their solar boat during the competition. On to victory!
