The quest to go faster on water has challenged both man and craft for centuries. Whether for trading, waging war or simply winning a coveted trophy, the relentless desire to reach ever higher speeds has been evident down the ages.
Modern-day challengers have a clear benchmark against which to measure their skill and ingenuity. The current World Water Speed Record is 317.60mph. It was set by Australian Ken Warby in Spirit of Australia on 8 October 1978 at Blowering Dam Reservoir, New South Wales; this record has been challenged on several occasions in the last 36 years.
With the aim of bringing the record back to the UK, author Nigel Macknight established the Quicksilver project, to build a technically advanced and efficient craft that has been the subject of much development work, experimentation and in-depth trials. The main body has a steel space-frame that houses a Rolls-Royce Spey Mk101 jet engine, while the rear section features a monocoque construction. One of the two front sponsons accommodates the ‘driver’.
Mr Macknight says: “The history of the World Water Speed Record is a story of technological advancement, human endeavour, triumph and tragedy. The ultimate aim of the Quicksilver project is to return this prestigious international prize to Great Britain, and in doing so add a vibrant chapter for a new era — that of bringing modern technology to bear in the quest for speed with safety. While Quicksilver is a new boat that is inspired by the past, we are striving to extend the reach of human endeavour and advance Britain’s technological achievements on the world stage.”
Collaborative venture
The Quicksilver World Water Speed Record Challenge is a collaborative venture uniting highly skilled people and companies from across British industry, with team members contributing their time and skills voluntarily. Invaluable assistance is also given by an extensive network of sponsors, who back the challenge by contributing their expertise in areas ranging from design and manufacture to testing. These sponsors include Manchester Metrology Ltd, an expert in the field of high-precision measurement and the application of CAD comparison software.
Mr Macknight said: “As Manchester Metrology specialises in the extremely precise non-contact 3-D measurement of engineered components manufactured to fine tolerances, its use of technology such as Faro’s Edge ScanArm HD has been invaluable in allowing us to achieve the considerable progress we have made to date.
"As in related disciplines such as motor-sport, when designing and constructing Quicksilver, we needed to strike a fine balance between guaranteeing that all of the boat’s components were strong enough to function correctly and ensuring that their weight is optimised; less weight equates to more speed.
“The Faro inspection routines allowed the component data to be compared with CAD models, thereby ensuring adherence to dimensional tolerances. Also, many of the fabricated components that make up Quicksilver’s superstructure are made from very thin aluminium and are prone to distortion when welded. After heat treatment and correctional re-work, these parts are scanned by Manchester Metrology with a Faro Edge ScanArm HD to confirm their conformity to specification.
“Because Quicksilver needs to exhibit outstanding aerodynamic and hydrodynamic characteristics, Manchester Metrology will soon be using the Faro Edge ScanArm HD to gather data relating to all of the boat’s external surfaces. The resulting data will prove invaluable as we move on to an attempt on the record.”
Point-cloud data
As an authorised distributor and user of Faro products across a range of industrial applications, Manchester Metrology (
www.manchester-metrology.com) used the recently launched Faro Edge ScanArm HD to undertake rapid point-cloud collection scanning routines on a wide range of Quicksilver structures, with Faro’s CAM2 Measure 10 software allowing deviations from nominal conditions to be displayed in both a graphic and a tabulated format — and quick comparisons with CAD to be made.
The Edge ScanArm HD provides rapid point-cloud collection with high levels of resolution and accuracy, with new functionalities now allowing users to seamlessly scan across diverse surface materials regardless of contrast, reflectivity or part complexity — and without the use of any special coatings or target placement.
Moreover, the new system’s extra-wide scan stripe and fast frame rate boost productivity by increasing coverage and substantially reducing scanning time; and with 2,000 actual points per scan line and a new blue laser that features noise reduction technology, intricate components can be captured in fine detail.
Paul Bulman, Manchester Metrology’s owner, says; “Having gained vast experience when engaged in many other high-profile projects and a multitude of on-site inspection assignments, we were delighted to be invited to lend our expertise to the Quicksilver World Water Speed Record Challenge.
"In addition to our in-house sub-contract inspection work and our on-site inspection services, we sell and lease a full range of Faro Arm, Gage and Laser tracking equipment. As proven by its use in the Quicksilver project, the Faro Edge ScanArm HD is an invaluable tool for product development, detailed inspection routines, and accurate quality control tasks.”