This thread is a continuation of the 2010 thread "Extreme Dolfinism", which was originally started to tell the story behind the development of the DOL-Fin Orca monofin. Smith Aerospace Corp. has been working on a second generation design of the DOL-Fin Orca, and it seemed to make sense to start fresh with a new thread as the original thread was already very long.
Whereas the original Orca monofin was designed in 2D and all the molds were painstakingly lofted and sculpted by hand, the Orca Mk-2 development has been able to capitalize on new tools and techniques acquired over the past couple of years for 3D design and fabrication.
This has opened up opportunities to create a design that is more refined than the original, and to take the Orca from being a rare hand-made monofin produced on a selective basis, to a manufactured product for anyone who wants it. As such, the primary goal of the Mk-2 project was to design a new Orca that could be manufactured in greater numbers than the original.
In conjunction with addressing the manufacturing, we also made several refinements to an already excellent monofin. The Mk-2 is buoyant for added stability in freefall and for better trim when performing dynamics. The binding straps have gone through several design iterations to make them more comfortable and to improve power transfer to the fin. The fin blade has been lowered for improved surface swimming qualities, and the overall streamlining of the fin has gone through digital refinement.
To kick-off this thread, I would like to share a video to briefly touch on the construction story behind the DOL-Fin Orca Mk-2.
Whereas the original Orca monofin was designed in 2D and all the molds were painstakingly lofted and sculpted by hand, the Orca Mk-2 development has been able to capitalize on new tools and techniques acquired over the past couple of years for 3D design and fabrication.
This has opened up opportunities to create a design that is more refined than the original, and to take the Orca from being a rare hand-made monofin produced on a selective basis, to a manufactured product for anyone who wants it. As such, the primary goal of the Mk-2 project was to design a new Orca that could be manufactured in greater numbers than the original.
In conjunction with addressing the manufacturing, we also made several refinements to an already excellent monofin. The Mk-2 is buoyant for added stability in freefall and for better trim when performing dynamics. The binding straps have gone through several design iterations to make them more comfortable and to improve power transfer to the fin. The fin blade has been lowered for improved surface swimming qualities, and the overall streamlining of the fin has gone through digital refinement.
To kick-off this thread, I would like to share a video to briefly touch on the construction story behind the DOL-Fin Orca Mk-2.