Heron AM Offers Robotic LFAM for Composite Pellet Extrusion
The integrated Heron AM system opens up new opportunities for manufacturers seeking to drive new applications more efficiently and sustainably.
Edited by
Angela Osborne
Managing Editor, Gardner Business Media
Caracol’s Heron hardware-software platform works with robots from the likes of Kuka to produce industrial large-scale 3D printed parts. Source: Caracol
Caracol’s flagship Heron AM is a robotic turnkey large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) platform for composite pellet extrusion designed to enable manufacturers to produce industrial large-scale 3D printed parts with more efficiency, flexibility and sustainability.
The LFAM platform integrates hardware, software and automation to maximize flexibility, process control and performance. The platform features a modular hardware-software robotic system that works on more than 6 axes to enable manufacturers to produce thermoplastic composite parts with very complex geometries and with no scale or shape limits.
Caracol developed and industrialized its robotic AM platform using KUKA’s six-axis robotic arms for kinematics. For the industrial range, the company has developed a dedicated automation and control suite, enabling clients to work with a custom system for different needs and applications.
“Since our inception, we’ve harnessed robotics to revolutionize large-scale 3D printing, enabling unparalleled efficiency, flexibility and geometric freedom that conventional methods can’t match,” says Violetta Nespolo, chief marketing and strategy officer at Caracol AM.
The system is designed as high-productivity platform, ensuring control of the production cycle while minimizing risks and downtimes. As one provider, Caracol says it delivers quicker innovation, higher customization, and prompt and reliable support. It is well suited for the production of a variety of parts, including tooling, prototypes, metal replacement, temporary or permanent substitution of parts as well as structural and finished parts.
The custom turnkey platform can be configured to fit clients’ needs. Caracol’s engineering team works with clients to understand their needs and types of applications for manufacturing to deliver the exact layout, additional features and ideal configuration. Manufacturing tools becomes easier, faster, cheaper and more sustainable overall. It is said users can drastically reduce lead times from design to finished parts with part consolidation, and create lighter tools with ergonomic features for easier operations and logistics.
The platform enables users to customize part designs and geometries while also increasing efficiency with optimized lead times and lower costs, all without compromising on quality. It offers a sustainable production process, aiming for zero-to-positive impact by enabling a circular economy, cutting waste and using recycled materials.