Explore the Game-Changing Melt Core System in Thermwood’s LSAM Technology

Thermwood has been pioneering Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) since 2016, leading the industry with our advanced LSAM systems. These machines offer more than just large-scale capabilities—they deliver an unmatched printing experience with superior print consistency, precise temperature control, and powerful slicing software.

In this series, we’ll take you through the exclusive benefits of LSAM technology, starting with our patented Melt Core System. Discover how this cutting-edge innovation redefines material processing to achieve faster, more reliable, and efficient large-scale 3D printing. Ready to explore the future of manufacturing? Dive in and see why Thermwood is the leader in LFAM! 

 

 

• High output deposition rates
• Large consistent bead sizes
• Standard Melt Core producing over 200 lbs/hr (90.72 kg/hr)
• Optional Larger Melt Core producing over 500 lbs/hr (226.8 kg/hr)
• PID heater control to tightly maintain processing temperatures
• Up to 450° C (850° F) processing temperatures
• Custom Industrial Extruder Screw
• Compression Following Wheel (temperature-controlled) 

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Thermwood Patented Polymer Melt Pump

• Custom patented extruder screw design
• Provides a more consistent melt temperature
• Material flows from the extruder into a fixed displacement polymer melt pump system (patented)
• Melt Pump precisely delivers material to the nozzle
• Eliminates the problem of Extruder Surging
• Not necessary to change the extruder screw when switching between different materials

Thermwood LSAM 1020 Printing and Machining a High Temperature Aerospace Tool for ST Engineering (MRAS) 

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐋𝐒𝐀𝐌?

• Precision for demanding aerospace applications

• Fastest print heads in the industry – print at speeds up to 200 lbs to 500 lbs per hour

• Built to handle high-temperature materials

• Fast and precise machining capabilities

• Print and Trim at the same time on the same machine for maximum efficiency

• Process virtually any thermoplastic composite, including high-temp materials

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐒𝐀𝐌: https://bit.ly/3BQqfV9

Ever wondered how you can produce large format, near-net-shape parts faster and more affordably? Check out this innovative use of Thermwood’s Cut Layer Additive process in action!

Watch as CLA creates a Trim and Drill Vacuum Fixture using RAKU Tool SB-0497 with remarkable precision and speed. This method slashes production costs while maintaining top-quality results.  See how cutting layers, rather than printing them, is making large-scale manufacturing easier and more efficient than ever

Project Details:

• Trim and Drill Vacuum Fixture made from RAKU Tool SB-0497
• CLA Software Processing Time: 13 minutes 48 seconds
• CLA Machining Near Net Shape Layers Time: 1 hour 4 minutes
• Assembly Time: 2 hours with 2 employees
• Total 5 axis Trimming Time: 35 hours

Cut Layer Additive is a powerful new additive approach that produces large format, near-net-shape parts at incredibly low cost, using a lower cost additive machine. Unlike large format additive printers (like Thermwood’s LSAM), the new process makes large parts from a variety of materials that can’t be printed.

Cut Layer Additive parts are similar to large additively printed parts, in that they are essentially hollow structures made in layers. However, instead of printing the layers, they are instead cut from thick sheets.

LSAM 5 Axis Trimming Capabilities

🔍 Did you know our cutting-edge LSAM systems can be configured with a separate 5-axis trimming head?

🚀 Like this LSAM 1020 flagship model, for example. It features a dual-gantry setup where one gantry can print while the other trims simultaneously, streamlining your workflow like never before!

 Here’s a quick rundown of our innovative models:

• 𝐋𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟎: A closed high-wall system with doors on each end, featuring a single control with both print and trim heads on one moving gantry. Efficient and compact!
  
  
•  𝐋𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟎/𝟏𝟎𝟒𝟎/𝟏𝟓𝟒𝟎: These models also feature a closed high-wall
  configuration with doors on each end, equipped with dual controls and dual gantries for separate print and trim operations. Perfect for maximizing productivity! 
  
  
•  𝐋𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐌𝐓: Designed with an open configuration, it has a single fixed gantry over a moving table, integrating print and trim functions seamlessly. 
  
  
•  𝐋𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐀𝐏 𝟓𝟓/𝟓𝟏𝟎: These systems offer an open configuration, with optional enclosures available. They focus on printing only, with a fixed gantry over a moving table, ideal for specialized tasks.  

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.

𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗦𝗔𝗠 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀:

• 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.

• 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.

• Choose from Print-only or Print-and-Trim combinations with table sizes ranging from 5’x5’ to 15’x40’ and beyond.

• Save both time and money over traditional methods - case study here: https://bit.ly/3zWoWjk

 

𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲:

We will next be printing LIVE at IMTS 2024 in Chicago, IL (booth #433103) starting on September 9th 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.

 

Learn More About LSAM:

LSAM 1540 Shown

Did you know.... 

The market and technology leader in LFAM since 2016

Take a Tour of the Thermwood LSAM

LSAM Product Manager, Scott Vaal, takes you on an informative tour of the Thermwood LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing), a unique solution for large scale additive manufacturing.

LSAM is a complete system that can both print to near net shape and then machine the print to its net shape.  By far, the fastest way to 3D print large tools or parts.

Stay tuned for the next release in this exciting new series of videos from Thermwood!

Thermwood recently completed a 3D printed multi-piece foundry pattern.  The pattern was printed on an LSAM 1020, and machined on a Thermwood 5 Axis Model 90 (because of other projects that were pending on the LSAM).

The pattern was printed out of ABS (20% carbon fiber fill).  Print time for the project was 6 hours and 40 minutes, and the trim time was a little over 47 hours with multiple fixture setups.

Click below to watch a video of the process:

The final pattern after trimming

The completed and assembled pattern.

About Thermwood Corporation

Thermwood 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 the technology and market leader in large scale additive manufacturing systems for 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. These are some of the largest and most capable additive manufacturing systems ever produced and are marketed to major companies in the aerospace, marine, automotive and foundry industries as well as military, government and defense contractors.

Aerodef 2020 (March 17th and 18th) in Fort Worth, TX, starts next week, and Thermwood will be there (Booth #615) to talk LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing).

We will have the the 18 1/2 foot long Bell Helicopter Blade Mold on hand in addition to other 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. 

About Thermwood Corporation

Thermwood 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 the technology and market leader in large scale additive manufacturing systems for 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. These are some of the largest and most capable additive manufacturing systems ever produced and are marketed to major companies in the aerospace, marine, automotive and foundry industries as well as military, government and defense contractors.

Thermwood recently announced the LSAM MT, a lower cost moving table version of its industry-leading LSAM (large scale additive system). Although Thermwood has hundreds of open moving table CNC routers in operation, similar in configuration to the MT, and believes this configuration will also work for many LSAM customers, several larger customers requested an enclosed machine configuration that is the same size as the MT, but configured like the larger LSAM high wall systems. 

To address this request for a lower cost enclosed machine, Thermwood has announced the LSAM 1010. This system uses the walls from the larger LSAM systems with the gantry, control and sub-systems from the MT.

The new LSAM 1010 has both the print and trim heads on same the gantry just like the LSAM MT.

The Details

A single moving gantry on the LSAM 1010 carries both the print and trim heads just like on the MT.

The LSAM 1010 features a fixed 10 foot by 10 foot table. A single moving gantry carries both the print and trim heads as on the MT and, like the MT, it can both print and trim (but not at the same time). The print and trim heads on all Thermwood LSAMs are the same, so all machines can process virtually any reinforced composite thermoplastic materials available today.

The print and trim heads on all Thermwood LSAMs are the same, so all machines can process virtually any reinforced composite thermoplastic materials available today.

Although the LSAM 1010 is slightly higher in price than the MT, it is noticeably less than the larger LSAMs and generally less than the cost and complexity of trying to add an external enclosure to the MT.

In addition, even though the LSAM 1010 is slightly wider than the larger LSAMs (to accommodate mounting both the print and trim heads on the same gantry), the overall footprint of the 1010 is actually slightly smaller than required for the MT. And, like the MT, the 1010 can be purchased as a print only machine. 

Thermwood believes that, since it is enclosed like the larger LSAMs, the LSAM 1010 can be built to meet European CE requirements, just like the larger machines.

With the introduction of the LSAM 1010, it is clear that Thermwood is committed to responding to customer requests and providing its industry-leading LSAM additive manufacturing technology in a variety of configurations to better fit varying customer requirements.

About Thermwood Corporation

Thermwood 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 the technology and market leader in large scale additive manufacturing systems for 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. These are some of the largest and most capable additive manufacturing systems ever produced and are marketed to major companies in the aerospace, marine, automotive and foundry industries as well as military, government and defense contractors.