Another day, another 3D material qualification on Thermwood LSAM

Posted by Duane Marrett on Fri, Sep 15, 2023

Tags: Announcements, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing, CAMX

Did you know.... 

Once the LSAM Print 3D melt profile is is developed, it may be shared among all LSAM LFAM Large Scale Additive Manufacturing systems?
 
Commonality in components and advanced manufacturing practices enable this seamless transition.
 
This ability also makes LSAM material agnostic. LSAM owners are free to use ๐—”๐—ก๐—ฌ qualified 3D print material.
 
LSAM owners may also develop their own melt profiles by working directly with 3D polymer suppliers.
 
By the way - This makes 30 (THIRTY) qualified 3D printing polymers that are ready to run on LSAM!
 
How many can you run on your 3D printer?
 
More Info on LSAM: https://bit.ly/3GFE3RR
 
 

The market and technology leader in LFAM since 2016

 
We offer the broadest range of LFAM systems in the industry, to help you find the perfect solution for your needs and budget. But LSAM systems are more than just 3D printers - they're real production systems, capable of producing industrial fixtures, molds (including high temp), tooling, foundry patterns, prototypes and end products from a wide variety of both low and high temp materials.

๐—” ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜„ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฆ๐—”๐—  ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜€:
โ€ข LSAM systems offer three printing orientations - HLP (Horizontal Layer Printing), VLP (Vertical Layer Printing), allowing parts to be printed that are as long as the machine table and ALP (Angle Layer Printing), the ability to print at a 45 degree angle.
โ€ข With the fastest print heads in the industry, our LSAM systems can print at speeds from up to 200lbs per hours to over 500 lbs per hour.
โ€ข Choose from Print-only or Print-and-Trim combinations with table sizes ranging from 5โ€™x5โ€™ to 15โ€™x40โ€™ and beyond.
โ€ข Save both time and money over traditional methods - case study here: https://bit.ly/3zWoWjk
 
๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ:
We will next be printing LIVE at CAMX 2023 in Atlanta, GA (booth #Q8) starting on October 31st with an LSAM AP 510 - visit us to learn more about LSAM, or you can always contact us directly to arrange a personal demonstration at our corporate headquarters.

Don't settle for less when it comes to your production process. Upgrade to Thermwood's LSAM system and take your manufacturing to the next level! Visit https://bit.ly/3GFE3RR to learn more about LSAM.

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

LSAM has been the market and technology leader in LFAM since 2016

Posted by Duane Marrett on Fri, Jul 07, 2023

Tags: Announcements, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing

The market and technology leader in LFAM since 2016

Since 2016, Thermwood has proudly established itself as the unrivaled leader in Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM). Our groundbreaking LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) systems have revolutionized the industry, setting new standards for market dominance and technological innovation.

 
We offer the broadest range of LFAM systems in the industry, to help you find the perfect solution for your needs and budget. But LSAM systems are more than just 3D printers - they're real production systems, capable of producing industrial fixtures, molds (including high temp), tooling, foundry patterns, prototypes and end products from a wide variety of both low and high temp materials.

๐—” ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜„ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฆ๐—”๐—  ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜€:
โ€ข LSAM systems offer three printing orientations - HLP (Horizontal Layer Printing), VLP (Vertical Layer Printing), allowing parts to be printed that are as long as the machine table and ALP (Angle Layer Printing), the ability to print at a 45 degree angle.
โ€ข With the fastest print heads in the industry, our LSAM systems can print at speeds from up to 200lbs per hours to over 500 lbs per hour.
โ€ข Choose from Print-only or Print-and-Trim combinations with table sizes ranging from 5โ€™x5โ€™ to 15โ€™x40โ€™ and beyond.
โ€ข Save both time and money over traditional methods - case study here: https://bit.ly/3zWoWjk
 
๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ:
We will next be printing LIVE at CAMX 2023 in Atlanta, GA (booth #Q8) starting on October 31st with an LSAM AP 510 - visit us to learn more about LSAM, or you can always contact us directly to arrange a personal demonstration at our corporate headquarters.

Don't settle for less when it comes to your production process. Upgrade to Thermwood's LSAM system and take your manufacturing to the next level! Visit https://bit.ly/3GFE3RR to learn more about LSAM.

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

Another Thermwood LSAM 10'x40' is Ready to Ship Out!

Posted by Duane Marrett on Fri, Oct 11, 2019

Tags: Thermwood, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing

Another Thermwood LSAM 10'x40' featuring optional VLP (Vertical Layer Printing) capability is ready to be packed up and shipped out! Look how small this massive LSAM makes the Model 70 10'x30' in production next to it look!
More Info on LSAM: http://bit.ly/2KheM0r

Overhead view of another 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM ready to be packed up and shipped out!
Overhead view of another 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM ready to be packed up and shipped out!


Some of the guys who helped build this latest LSAM pose with the machine.
Some of the guys who helped build this latest LSAM pose with the machine.


Looking down the table from the trim side to the print side of this 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM.
Looking down the table from the trim side to the print side of this 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM.


Optional VLP (Vertical Layer Printing) on this latest 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM.
Optional VLP (Vertical Layer Printing) on this latest 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM.


Perspective!
Perspective!


Another view from the trim side of this latest 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM.
Another view from the trim side of this latest 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM.


Look how small this massive LSAM makes the Model 70 10'x30' in production next to it look!Look how small this massive LSAM makes the Model 70 10'x30' in production next to it look!


A quick side-view of this latest 10'x40' Thermwood LSAM.


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 over 45 separate patents on various aspects of this new technology (more than half of which have already been granted) and more will be coming as development continues. LSAM is truly โ€œstate of the artโ€ in this exciting new world of Large Scale Additive Manufacturing. 

LSAM produces superior printed parts.

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

Thermwood and Bell 3D Print Helicopter Blade Mold

Posted by Duane Marrett on Thu, Feb 07, 2019

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing, Bell, Bell Helicopter, Bell Flight, Helicopter

A joint venture program between Thermwood and Bell has pushed the limits of 3D printing, resulting in what Thermwood believes is the largest 3D printed autoclave capable tool ever made. 

The first half of an 18 foot helicopter blade mold that was 3D Printed on a Thermwood LSAM in just over 3 hours.

The first half of an 18 foot helicopter blade mold that was 3D Printed in just over 3 hours


A common limiting factor within aerospace development programs is expensive, long-lead time tooling.  Bell, not being satisfied abiding by the industry norms, decided to reach out to Thermwood to help solve this challenge.

Glenn Isbell quote regarding Thermwood's LSAM

Video

The Challenge

Shortly after initial conversations with Bell, the Thermwood team offered an opportunity of a partnership centering around the capabilities of their new 60mm melt core technology.  The original challenge for quickly and affordably manufacturing large bond tooling seemed closer to reality than ever before. 

Bell responded to this opportunity in kind by providing Thermwood a model of a closed cavity blade mold measuring approximately 20 feet long, 14 inches wide and 17 inches high. 

The basic tooling requirements were as follows:

  • Must to be printed in one continuous run for vacuum integrity
  • Surface finish must be 32 RMS or better
  • Tooling must be able to withstand 90 psi at 360ยฐF. 
  • Tight tolerances and features were also required to ensure proper mating of the two blade mold halves.

The Process

Upon receiving the model and requirements, the Thermwood team sprang into action. Utilizing their new 60mm melt core technology, they began to print the tool using TechmerPMโ€™s 25% Carbon Fiber reinforced PESU (Polyethersulfone) in one continuous run. Working closely with Thermwood, Techmer has formulated this material specifically for LSAM additive printing.

The printable material has a Glass Transition Temperature of over 400ยฐF and can easily survive common aerospace component cure cycles of up to 360ยฐF, at 90psi. The combination of Techmer's new materials and Thermwood's printing technology, resulted in a print time of one tool half in just 3 hours 8 minutes and an โ€œas printedโ€ weight of 542 pounds.

Thermwood technicians claim the Techmer PESU material prints as easily as ABS, although at a much higher temperature, allowing quality autoclave-capable molds to be made from the high temperature polymer.

Thermwood LSAM 3D Printing an 18 ft helicopter blade mold

This extraordinary achievement was made possible by a new, larger melt core recently installed on Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM system at its Development/Demonstration Lab in Southern Indiana. The standard LSAM machine print head housing can be equipped with different capacity melt cores, each offering different minimum and maximum throughputs.

Continuous Cooling Print Process

With Thermwoodโ€™s room temperature โ€œContinuous Coolingโ€ print process, the cycle time for each layer is determined solely by how long it takes a particular printed polymer to cool to the proper temperature to accept the next layer.

Only by printing at the proper temperature can you achieve a totally fused, void-free printed structure that will maintain vacuum in an autoclave without a coating. The print head output determines how much material can be printed during the time it takes for the layer to cool. Bigger print heads mean larger parts, not necessarily faster layer to layer print time.

LSAM Print 3D software infared camera view.

Thermographic view of the part being printed

The new 60mm melt core has a measured maximum output of 480 to 570 pounds per hour depending on the polymer being printed and can print over 100 feet of typical print bead (.830โ€ x .200โ€) per minute. This high print rate, even when processing high temperature material, allows the print bead to be oriented along the length of the tool. This is desirable for Bell, who manufactures large composite parts, because thermal expansion is significantly lower in that direction, minimizing expansion and contraction of the tool with temperature changes.

Internal Printed Support Structure

Another interesting feature of this tool is that the internal printed structure supports the mold without actually contacting or touching the back side of the mold cavity. This means air can flow freely under the entire formed part in the autoclave, making the part curing process easier and more consistent. The ability to incorporate a complex internal design, such as this, is another major advantage of using additive manufacturing for this type of tooling.

Internal 3D Printed support structure in a 18 foot hellicopter blade mold on a Thermwood LSAM

3D printed internal support structures

Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM Print 3D slicing software specifically supports programming of involved internal structures such as these.

Internal support structure shown on LSAM Print 3D software.

Internal support structure shown on LSAM Print 3D software.

Internal support structure shown on LSAM Print 3D software.

Internal support structures in  LSAM Print 3D slicing software


Bell Investigates Multiple Manufacturing Processes

Bell is continuing to investigate integrated technologies that support multiple manufacturing processes and tools.  The LSAM is capable of supporting printing processes as well as trim and drill processes to meet aerospace specifications.  Once printed, the team began to machine the bond tool half by utilizing the other aspect of the LSAM system.  The total machining time of the lower blade mold half was 40 hours.  

James Cordell quote regarding Thermwood's LSAM

The completed bond tool was able to maintain Bellโ€™s vacuum standards required for autoclave processing right from the machine, without the need for a seal coating

Part maintaining vacuum during extended testing

Part maintaining vacuum during extended testing

The part steadily holding vacuum during testing

The part steadily holding vacuum during testing


Next Steps

The Thermwood team will print the second half of the blade mold, with the intention of having Bell cure a full molded blade within the final additively-manufactured bond tool, another first.  Further testing will be completed by both Thermwood and Bell teams on PESU printed molds, to continue innovating in this space. 

Final Thoughts

Ken Susnjara Quote on Bell

Thermwood believes recent LSAM technology advances such as Vertical Layer Printing and Changeable Melt Cores (coupled with polymers specially tailored for LSAM processing), are opening exciting new possibilities for additive production of even larger and more technically complex components.

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.

Much of the technology used in Thermwood's LSAM machines and print process is completely new. Thermwood has already received numerous patents on these revolutionary developments and many more are in the works.

LSAM is the Leader in Large Scale Additive Sales

In the last year, Thermwood's LSAM additive manufacturing systems were the clear market leaders in the sale of large scale 3D printing systems for thermoplastic composite materials, selling virtually all systems in the US during the year.

LSAM is truly state-of-the-art in the exciting new world of large scale additive manufacturing.

The Secret to LSAM Print Quality...A Different Process

Examples of large parts easily printed on Thermwood's LSAM

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

TAHOE Boats Newest Design Uses 3D LSAM Printed Tooling

Posted by Duane Marrett on Thu, Jan 10, 2019

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing, T16, White River, Bass Pro, TAHOE Boats

TAHOE Boats, Springfield, MO. formally announced the all-new, revolutionary T16 boat design, engineered with families in mind. Using innovative technology, the T16 delivers an unprecedented lightweight design and affordability with an uncompromising commitment to quality and performance.

One factor that made this boat possible is that the T16 was designed and built in the U.S. leveraging innovative Thermwood LSAM techniques never before used in the marine industry.

White River Marine Group, the marine manufacturing arm of Bass Pro Shops, worked with Thermwood, utilizing Thermwoodโ€™s Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) system and the latest in LSAM technology to custom-print the tool used to manufacture the boatโ€™s hull โ€“ the first time 3D printing has been used on actual boat production at this scale.

This boat-building advancement led to greater efficiency in the planning, design and construction of the T16.

Tahoe Boats T16, which was designed and built in the US.

The Process

Thermwood printed the master pattern for the boat hull at its Development/Demonstration Labs is Dale, Indiana. The pattern was printed in six sections from 20% carbon fiber filled ABS supplied by Techmer PM, who was an active partner in the program. The joints between the pieces were machined, pinned and bonded together and the assembled hull machined to final size and shape. The entire process required only ten days to complete.

T16 Master Pattern being machined on Thermwood LSAM

After printing and machining, the tool was sent to White River, where they applied, sanded and polished a proprietary coating, which they developed earlier, using previously printed parts supplied by Thermwood.

TAHOE Boats T16 Master Pattern 3D Printed on a Thermwood LSAM

Prior to this public introduction, Thermwood was able to use images and videos of the process, which have been on our web site for some time now, however, we respected a request not to disclose the participants or final use of the tool until the boat was publicly released by White River Marine Group.


Tahoe Boats T16, which was designed and built in the US.


Please Click to View Video of the Entire Process

Current Technology Speeds The Process Up Even More

An interesting note is that this type of tool can be produced in even less time with current technology. Using Thermwoodโ€™s Vertical Layer Printing (which wasnโ€™t available at the time this tool was made), this type of pattern can now be printed as one piece in just over two days, eliminating the machining between sections and the bonding process. This should cut build time almost in half.

Ken Susnjara on additive manufacturing in the marine industry.

Master patterns, such as this, are used to make molds for high production rates where multiple molds are required. For larger boats or lower production rates, it may be possible to print the mold itself rather than a pattern from which multiple molds are made. Thermwood has also been working on this approach and has recently announced the successful production of a seven foot long, 1/7 scale model of a yacht hull mold using Vertical Layer Printing. Work continues in both these areas.

Even at this early stage of development it is apparent that large scale additive manufacturing could have a dramatic, perhaps even a transformational impact on production methods used in the marine industry, significantly reducing tooling cost and dramatically speeding up the tool building process.

About TAHOE Boats

TAHOE is part of the White River Marine Group family of brands, Bass Proโ€™s marine manufacturing arm and the largest builder of boats in the world by volume. In addition to TAHOE, White River Marine manufactures Americaโ€™s favorite boat brands including MAKO, NITRO, RANGER, REGENCY SUN TRACKER, TRACKER, TRITON and others. All White River Marine boats are proudly manufactured in the U.S.

About Techmer PM

Techmer PM is a leading materials design company and works in deep partnership with plastics processors, OEMs, and designers to solve some of their most difficult business, manufacturing, and sustainability challenges. For more than 30 years, they have helped consumer and industrial product manufacturers achieve the finest color, texture, appearance, and functional enhancements for a variety of product applications. Techmer PM is a family-owned company thatโ€™s based in Clinton, Tennessee where they operate their largest production facility, as well as five others throughout the U.S. They have been a pioneer in developing polymers for large scale additive manufacturing applications.

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.

Much of the technology used in Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM machines and print process is completely new. Thermwood has already received numerous patents on these revolutionary developments and many more are in the works. In addition to the projects already announced, many other exciting results that LSAM has already achieved are covered by non-disclosure agreements and must be kept secret. LSAM is truly state-of-the-art in the exciting new world of large scale additive manufacturing.

The Secret to LSAM Print Quality...A Different Process

Examples of large parts easily printed on Thermwood's LSAM

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

Thermwood Announces New, Higher Capacity Melt Core for its LSAM Print Head

Posted by Duane Marrett on Tue, Dec 18, 2018

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing, Melt Core

Thermwood has completed initial testing of a larger melt core for its LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) systems and the results are stunning.

Ken Susnjara Quote - LSAM 60mm Melt Core

 

Print up to 570 pounds per hour

Thermwoodโ€™s additive print head housing can accommodate interchangeable melt cores.  A melt core consists of a feed housing, extruder and polymer melt pump and determines just how fast material can be printed.

The standard 40mm melt core has a maximum output of between 190 and 210 pounds per hour, depending on the polymer being printed, which translates to 40 - 50 feet of standard bead (0.83โ€x0.20โ€) per minute.

The new 60mm melt core has been tested with different polymers and has achieved print rates from 480 to 570 pounds per hour, which translates to well over 100 feet of bead per minute.

More Info

With Thermwoodโ€™s room temperature โ€œContinuous Coolingโ€ print process, the cycle time for each layer is determined solely by how long it takes a particular printed polymer to cool to the proper temperature to accept the next layer.

Only by printing when the previously printed layer is within the proper temperature range can you achieve a completely solid, void free printed structure that maintains vacuum in an autoclave without a secondary coating. This is as fast as you can print a layer.

The print head output then determines how much material can be printed during the time it takes for the layer to cool. Bigger print heads mean bigger parts not faster layer to layer print time.

โ€œThis new development opens a new world of additive manufacturing possibilitiesโ€ says Thermwoodโ€™s Founder, Chairman and CEO, Ken Susnjara. โ€œThis is one of the most exciting advances we have achieved to date and now we can do things we couldnโ€™t even consider beforeโ€.

New Possibilities

For example, Thermwood recently announced Vertical Layer Printing which allows parts to be printed that are as long as the machine table. In this process, however, the layer stack direction is along the length of the part. This works well for room temperature or low temperature patterns, fixtures and molds, however, for high temperature molds, for use in an autoclave for example, the thermal expansion (CTE) along the stack direction is as much as 20 times greater than along the bead direction. Therefore, it is desirable to print long tools with the bead oriented in the long direction, however, print heads, even Thermwoodโ€™s 200 pound per hour head, currently the largest in the industry, have been too slow for thisโ€ฆuntil now.

The high print rate of the new melt core, even when processing high temperature materials, allows the print bead to be oriented along the length of the tool, even for tools that are as long as the machine table itself.

Melt Core Changeover in One Shift

In addition to a maximum speed, each melt core has a minimum speed at which it can continuously print. Parts with bead lengths smaller than this minimum, require the print head to move to a โ€œHot Holdโ€ area where it runs at a slow maintenance speed, spilling material at a slow rate until the required cooling time has been achieved. This wastes material and means the larger melt core may not be desirable for all applications. Many tools and molds are just too small for efficient printing with the larger core.

If a user needs both small and large parts on the same machine, the melt cores can be switched in less than a shift.

Thermwood LSAM 40mm Melt Core Changeover to 60mm Melt Core

Final Thoughts

Thermwood believes the next step in this development is to address the challenge of really long autoclave capable tooling. Be assured, work in this area has already begun.

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.

Much of the technology used in Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM machines and print process is completely new. Thermwood has already received numerous patents on these revolutionary developments and many more are in the works. In addition to the projects already announced, many other exciting results that LSAM has already achieved are covered by non-disclosure agreements and must be kept secret. LSAM is truly state-of-the-art in the exciting new world of large scale additive manufacturing.

The Secret to LSAM Print Quality...A Different Process

Examples of large parts easily printed on Thermwood's LSAM

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

Thermwood Validates Additive Production of Yacht Hull Molds

Posted by Duane Marrett on Tue, Dec 04, 2018

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing, Mold, Yacht

Thermwood has already 3D printed a full size pattern which was used to produce production sport boat hull molds. Much larger vessels, yachts for example, require a different approach. In these instances, it is desirable to print the mold itself rather than print a plug or pattern from which a mold is made.

Working with an undisclosed marine industry collaborator, Thermwood has printed a scale model of such a hull mold to test and validate the process.

Video

Printing The Mold Itself - No Plug/Pattern Necessary

The 1/7th scale test mold for this project is approximately seven feet long (the full size hull is approximately 50 foot). It was printed from 20% carbon fiber filled ABS using Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM additive manufacturing machine.

Six separate pieces of different lengths, the longest two, each being over seven feet long, were printed concurrently using LSAMโ€™s Vertical Layer Print capability. Printing required about 30 1/2 hours.

The ability to simultaneously print multiple parts of variable heights highlights the flexibility of both the vertical print process as well as Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM Print3D slicing software. The parts were then trimmed on the same machine and assembled into two mold halves.

More Details

The tool includes a deep undercut at the transom, so the finished mold needs to be two pieces, split down the middle. These mold halves are clamped together for layup and then separated to remove the finished hull after curing.

Molds for hulls of longer than fifty feet will be printed in multiple sections, assembled for hull layup and then disassembled to remove the finished part. The test tool printed here simulates that assembly and disassembly process.

Thermwood LSAM Yacht mold split down the middle
 
Thermwood LSAM Yacht mold split down the middle

The tool printed in this program will be tested using production materials in a production environment. Thermwood continues to work on methods and techniques needed to refine this into a production ready process.

Thermwood believes that the marine industry will benefit significantly from emerging large scale additive manufacturing technology and that this project is a significant first step toward the direct production of large vessel tooling.

Thermwood LSAM Yacht mold joined together

Closeup of Thermwood LSAM Yacht mold joined together

Closeup of Thermwood LSAM Yacht mold joined together


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.

Much of the technology used in Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM machines and print process is completely new. Thermwood has already received numerous patents on these revolutionary developments and many more are in the works. In addition to the projects already announced, many other exciting results that LSAM has already achieved are covered by non-disclosure agreements and must be kept secret. LSAM is truly state-of-the-art in the exciting new world of large scale additive manufacturing.

The Secret to LSAM Print Quality...A Different Process

Examples of large parts easily printed on Thermwood's LSAM

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

Sabic Displays Thermwood LSAM Printed Tool at Formnext Show

Posted by Duane Marrett on Tue, Nov 20, 2018

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, Trade Shows, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing, SABIC, Formnext

Sabic, a Saudi diversified manufacturing company, active in petrochemicals, chemicals, industrial polymers, fertilizers, and metals recently showed an additive manufactured aerospace tool in its booth at the recent Formnext additive manufacturing trade show in Frankfort Germany.

The tool, which was 3D Printed and trimmed on Thermwoodโ€™s LSAMยฎ demonstration system at its Southern Indiana headquarters, is made from Sabicโ€™s ULTEMโ„ข high temperature thermoplastic composite material. 

Tool made on Thermwood LSAM displayed in SABIC booth at Formnext 2018 

Tool made on Thermwood LSAM displayed in SABIC booth at Formnext 2018

SABICโ€™s portfolio of THERMOCOMPโ„ข AM reinforced compounds, which includes materials based on ULTEMโ„ข resin, is helping to encourage the use of large scale additive manufacturing for specialized applications, such as high-temperature autoclave tooling for the aerospace industry, reusable tooling for the cast concrete industry and a wide range of lower-temperature large part thermoforming tooling. Printed tools can help to reduce cost, construction time, inventory and weight vs. traditional steel tools.


The Details

At the Formnext show, SABIC featured a thermoforming tool for an aircraft interior panel printed on a Thermwood LSAMยฎ machine using THERMOCOMPโ„ข AM EC004XXAR1 compound, a SABIC material based on ULTEMโ„ข resin with 20 percent carbon fiber reinforcement.

Two tools, a male and female of the same shape and dimensions, were printed at Thermwoodโ€™s demonstration center in Southern Indiana at the same time in 6 hours and 7 minutes using 449 pounds of material. Trimming required an additional 6.5 hours per part or 13 hours total.

Tool made on Thermwood LSAM displayed in SABIC booth at Formnext 2018


About Sabic

SABIC is a global leader in diversified chemicals headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It manufactures on a global scale in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, making distinctly different kinds of products:  chemicals, commodity and high performance plastics, agri-nutrients and metals. The company has more than 35,000 employees worldwide and operates in more than 50 countries, with innovation hubs in five key geographies โ€“ USA, Europe, Middle East, South East Asia and North East Asia.


About Thermwood

outside_building_2Thermwood is a US based, multinational, diversified CNC machinery manufacturer that markets its products and services through offices in 11 countries. Thermwood is the oldest manufacturer of highly flexible, 3 & 5 axis high-speed machining centers known as CNC routers.  Thermwood has also become a technology leader in large scale additive manufacturing of thermoplastic composite molds, tooling, patterns and parts with its line of LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) machines that both 3D print and trim on the same machine.


 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.

Much of the technology used in Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM machines and print process is completely new. Thermwood has already received numerous patents on these revolutionary developments and many more are in the works. In addition to the projects already announced, many other exciting results that LSAM has already achieved are covered by non-disclosure agreements and must be kept secret. LSAM is truly state-of-the-art in the exciting new world of large scale additive manufacturing.

The Secret to LSAM Print Quality...A Different Process

Examples of large parts easily printed on Thermwood's LSAM

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

Thermwood Collaborating with the Navy to Explore Additive Manufacturing Technology

Posted by Duane Marrett on Wed, Nov 14, 2018

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Navy, Additive Manufacturing, Submarine, Naval Surface Warfare


Thermwood LSAM


Thermwood Corporation has entered into a collaborative program with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division to explore the use of additive manufacturing technology in developing marine models for ship and ship systems testing.

Part after printing and trimming

Please click below for video 

The Details

Carderock Division is the U.S. Navy's state-of-the-art research, engineering, modeling and test center for ships and ship systems. It is the largest, most comprehensive establishment of its kind in the world, serving a dual role in support of both our U.S. naval forces and the maritime industry. 

Navy and maritime communities have come to depend on their expertise and innovative spirit in developing advanced platforms and systems, enhancing naval performance, reducing operating costs and addressing the Navy's evolving mission.    

Part after printing and trimming

This initial validation program was centered on printing an unclassified scale nose of a submarine using Thermwoodโ€™s LSAM additive manufacturing system. The part was printed using 20% carbon fiber filled ABS in 11 hours and 45 minutes using traditional horizontal layer printing and a 40mm melt core. Final trim required 5 hours. Both printing and trimming were completed on the same machine, using Thermwoodโ€™s 10โ€™ x 20โ€™ LSAM at its demonstration lab in Southern Indiana.

Because of layer cooling requirements, the print rate for this part was less than half of the maximum rate the machine is capable of. It is expected that, moving forward, this program will include the printing of additional components using both horizontal and vertical layer printing.

Unclassified scale nose of a submarine

Close-up inside part

Close-up edge of part


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.

Much of the technology used in Thermwood's LSAM machines and print process is completely new. Thermwood has already received numerous patents on this revolutionary development and many more are in the works. Many exciting results that LSAM has already achieved are covered by non-disclosure agreements and must be kept secret.  LSAM is truly state-of-the-art in the exciting new world of large scale additive manufacturing.

The Secret to LSAM Print Quality...A Different Process

Examples of large parts easily printed on Thermwood's LSAM

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM

Thermwood Announces Vertical Layer Printing

Posted by Duane Marrett on Thu, Oct 25, 2018

Tags: Thermwood, Announcements, aerospace, 3D printing, Additive, LSAM, 3D Print, Thermwood LSAM, Additive Manufacturing, Vertical Layer Printing, VLP

Thermwood has released a Vertical Layer Printing (VLP) option for its LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) machines. This option allows parts to be printed which are as long as the machine table itself.

It does this by adding a second moving table, mounted perpendicular to the main fixed horizontal table. As layers are printed, this vertical table moves after each layer is printed, growing the part along the length of the machine rather than growing it upward. Thermwoodโ€™s โ€œcontrolled coolingโ€ print technology minimizes sag, which might otherwise pose a serious problem if the part were kept at an elevated temperature, as is common with traditional thermoplastic composite printing.

Vertical Layer Printing on a Thermwood LSAM


VLP Example Video

12 Foot Long ABS Trim Fixture for Boeing 777x Aircraft

As previously announced, one of the initial parts printed with this system is a 12 foot long, carbon fiber reinforced ABS trim fixture for use in the production of the Boeing 777X aircraft.

12 Foot ABS Trim Fixture for Boeing 777x printed on a Thermwood LSAM

VLP More Info

During development, Thermwood has vertically printed and validated the use of a variety of polymers, including high temperature materials such as PSU, PESU and PEI with good results. It appears that parts printed using VLP are structurally and functionally identical to parts printed in the traditional horizontal layer orientation.

This means that, just as with traditional horizontally printed LSAM parts, molds and tools printed using VLP maintain vacuum in an autoclave to aerospace standards right from the machine, without the need for any type of external coating.

Versatile Vertical Layer Printing

During VLP printing, the growing part rides on Teflon coated stainless steel belts. The belts and table drives (which can be fitted to any LSAM that is at least 20 feet long), have been designed to process parts which weigh up to fifty thousand pounds. Thermwood believes that this is more than adequate for anything customers are considering today.

Thermwood LSAM VLP Teflon coated stainless steel belt

During VLP printing, the growing part rides on Teflon coated stainless steel belts.

Print Long Parts in One Piece with VLP

The main advantage of Vertical Layer Printing is that long parts can be printed in one piece.

While it might be faster to print multiple sections of a large part simultaneously, they must then be bonded together so that they can be machined as a single piece. There are some disadvantages to this approach:

  • It requires time, labor and effort to machine mating surfaces, glue them together and wait for the adhesive to completely cure.
  • It may also require more than one bonding session for a larger part which typically requires more time and effort than simply printing the part in one piece.
  • Also, gluing printed parts together generally only works for certain room temperature or low temperature polymers.
  • Higher temperature materials are generally chemically and solvent resistant enough that they donโ€™t bond well enough for autoclave use. This means if you want to 3D print a really large autoclave tool using a high temperature polymer, printing it in one piece is the only real option. Thermwoodโ€™s VLP now makes this both feasible and practical.

Quick Change from Horizontal to Vertical

VLP has been designed so that the machine can be reconfigured from standard horizontal layer printing to vertical layer printing or back again in a matter of a few hours. It is clear that technology exists, right now today, to 3D print large autoclave capable aerospace tooling on a production basis. Thermwood has already been granted patent protection on key aspects of its Vertical Layer Print technology. 


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 โ€œstate of the artโ€ in this exciting new world of Large Scale Additive Manufacturing. 

The Secret to LSAM Print Quality...A Different Process

Examples of large parts easily printed on Thermwood's LSAM

Click for More Info on the Thermwood LSAM