Thermwood will be exhibiting at the upcoming IMTS Additive Manufacturing Conference 2018 in Chicago, IL

Posted by Duane Marrett on Mon, Sep 10, 2018

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, Trade Shows, 3Dprinting, IMTS, Additive, LSAM, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing


Thermwood is a platinum sponsor of the 2018 IMTS Additive Conference in Chicago, IL


Thermwood LSAM 10'x20' Machine ShownThe Additive Conference 2018 (September 11th and 12th) in Chicago, IL starts this week, and Thermwood will be there to talk LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing). 

We will have 3D printed samples to see and  touch as well as videos and literature.  Our knowledgeable sales staff will also be on hand to help answer any questions you may have about the future of Large Scale Additive Manufacturing and how the Thermwood LSAM can help your company charge ahead in this new area. 

More Information on LSAM

LSAM is based on exciting new technology developed from an entirely new direction.

LSAM is intended for industrial production. It is not a lab, evaluation or demonstration machine, but is instead a full-fledged industrial additive manufacturing system intended for the production of large scale components.

Thermwood has already applied for 19 separate patents on various aspects of this new technology (several have already been granted and more will be coming as development continues). LSAM is truly “state of the art” in this exciting new world of Large Scale Additive Manufacturing. 

LSAM produces superior printed parts.

 Request More Information from Thermwood

 

Thermwood Announces 3D Additive Manufacturing Program

Posted by Duane Marrett on Thu, Jul 30, 2015

Tags: Thermwood, CNC, Announcements, CNC Router, manufacturing, 3Dprinting, 3D printing, Additive

Thermwood’s 3D Additive Manufacturing System (initial development machine) can make parts up to 10’x10’x5’

Thermwood Corporation, a leading U.S. based manufacturer of CNC routers, has announced a program to develop a 3D Additive Manufacturing System, capable of making large carbon graphite reinforced composite thermoplastic components.

Near Net Shape Approach

Thermwood’s systems utilizes a “near net shape” approach where a relatively large extruder, mounted to the machine, is used to heat, melt and deposit, or “print”, carbon graphite filled thermoplastic material to quickly create a structure which is almost, but not quite the exact final shape. That structure, when it cools and hardens is then five axis machined to the final net shape. 

Up to Sixty Feet Long

These new systems will be based on Thermwood’s Model 77, semi-enclosed, high wall gantry machine structures, which are currently offered in sizes up to sixty feet long. American Kuhne LogoFor the plastic extruder, Thermwood turned to American Kuhne, the preferred provider of engineered solutions for plastic, rubber & silicone extrusion, who developed a custom system, which integrates tightly, both mechanically and electronically, with Thermwood’s CNC machine. This allows not only the machine but also the plastic extruder to be controlled and managed by a central CNC control, insuring smooth integration and increasing both capability and flexibility. 

Optional Additive and Subtractive on the Same Machine

With the addition of a second gantry, both the “Additive” and “Subtractive” processes can be performed on the same machine. The second “Subtractive” gantry will be offered as an option. Companies that already have five axis machining capacity and want to work with Additive Manufacturing may only require “Additive” machine capability as they can use existing equipment for the “Subtractive” part of the process. 

Full Six Axis Articulated Additive Deposition Head

The system’s custom 1.75 inch vertical extruder by American Kuhne is fully integrated to provide precise material distribution

Thermwood’s systems will feature full six axis articulated additive deposition head, allowing it to build layered structures on both a horizontal plane as well as planes canted in any direction up to ninety degrees from horizontal. Management believes this capability will be important as technology advances and more complex structures are required. 

Further Details

Thermwood’s initial development machine, which is nearing completion, can make parts up to ten foot by ten foot by five foot high, is equipped with a 20HP, 1 ¾ inch diameter, 24-1 L/D extruder and support equipment capable of processing over 100 pounds of material per hour. Despite the relatively heavy weight of the extrusion system and head, which are both mounted on and move with the machine, the machine generates impressive performance with high acceleration rates and high feed rate capability. 

Ongoing Development

This is an ongoing research and development program and Thermwood Management cannot say when commercial systems might be available to the market, but they believe this technology represents a major opportunity and that “Additive Manufacturing” will become a significant factor in the future of manufacturing. Thermwood believes it is in a unique position to pursue this emerging technology since, at one time, it was a plastic processing company that operated large plastic extruders in a production environment. Thermwood is already a major manufacturer of the “Subtractive” machinery part of the equation and this same technology is the basis of the “Additive” equipment.

Thermwood also designs, builds and programs its own sophisticated CNC controls which it can tailor to any new requirements and also has experience developing sophisticated design and CAD/CAM software packages which are also an important part of this new technology.