3D-Printed Cap for Mainsail Slider
31/05/2021
Numerunique received a perfect request: a significant problem for which numerunique can provide a simple solution.
The client’s testimony is particularly eloquent:
"The RM900 is a sailboat over 30 years old. Naturally, with age, some parts start to fail. During a sail, one of the plastic caps ensuring ball circulation in a mainsail slider gave way, spilling all the bearing balls. The effect of wear and sun exposure."
The top left of the photo below shows the cap break that led to losing all the slider balls:
"For non-specialists, sliders ease mainsail movement along the mast when hoisting or lowering. Each slider is fixed to the sail’s luff and mast rail, sliding via ball bearings."
So, provide a copy of this part:
which caps a mast rail slider:
The consequences of this "detail" are well described by the client:
"Impossible to find a replacement cap (unknown brand, non-standard dimensions), or replace the slider, as the rail isn’t standard. Additional difficulty: the rail stop isn’t removable due to a seized screw. The prospect of replacing the rail or even the mast emerges."
Fortunately, this fine sailboat’s owner knew numerunique :-)
"Numerunique has the technology to recreate the cap, even with slight improvements. The new cap is 3D-printed in black plastic, with a small recess for easier insertion."
Here’s the replacement cap:
