LSAM system can produce tooling, molds

LSAM Thermwood's Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) system is designed to produce large, reinforced thermoplastic composite molds and tools and has a 10-foot-wide by 5-foot-high work envelope. Its near-net-shape production process consists of two steps: First, the product is built slightly larger than its final size by a print gantry, and then it is trimmed and shaped by a five-axis trim gantry equipped with a CNC router. The PH15 print head can reach rates up to 150 pounds per hour, processing materials at temperatures up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. The trim gantry is equipped with a 12-horsepower spindle and 10-position automatic tool changer.

What's new? The system, which was introduced in August.

Benefits Lower costs, shorter build cycles for molds and tooling, and simplified programming. Also, special control functions have been built into the print head and bead compression wheel that allow them to perform tasks that would normally need to be incorporated into the CNC print program.

Thermwood Corp., Dale, Ind., 812-937-4476, www.thermwood.com