Design, Fabrication, and Testing of a Small-Scale Sea Wave Power Generation Using 3D-Printed Components (Point Absorber)

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and experimental testing of a small-scale wave power generator based on the point absorber concept. A floating buoy was designed in computer-aided design (CAD) software, 3D-printed, and coupled to a simple power take-off (PTO) generator to convert wave-induced motion into electricity. The objectives were to develop an efficient, cost-effective prototype using prototyping techniques and to evaluate its electrical output under controlled wave conditions. The methodology comprised design and simulation, additive manufacturing of buoyant and structural components, assembly of the point absorber with its generator, and wave tank testing. The 3D-printed prototype produced a measurable electrical output that increased with wave height, from 8 mV at 3 cm to 21.3 mV at 10 cm. The results confirm that low-cost, 3D-printed components can convert wave motion into electrical energy, demonstrating the feasibility of accessible, educational wave energy prototypes.