Heron AM Caracol’s robotic additive manufacturing platform integrates hardware, software and automation to make large-format advanced industrial parts through thermoplastic composite pellet extrusion. With it, users can make a wide variety of parts for a range of sectors, including prefab structures and housing modules, molds and silos, for the aerospace, construction and marine industries.
What’s new? The xHF extruder, which Caracol introduced in March at the JEC World trade show in Paris. The new extruder works with the company’s Heron AM 3D printer platform. The extruder, which has an extrusion rate of up to 165 pounds per hour, can process multiple materials and composite materials.
Benefits Fast and flexible production of large-scale industrial components. Featuring a dual chamber and custom nozzles, the xHF can process two materials at a time. It is compact and designed for producing parts with minimal component stress and enhanced durability. According to Caracol, the Heron AM platform is efficient and flexible, and can print a wide range of high-performing polymers and composites, including recycled materials.
Caracol Inc., Pflugerville, Texas, 512-644-2910, www.caracol-am.com
Vital Statistics
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Weight |
About 452 pounds |
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Dimensions |
5.8 feet by 1.4 feet by 2.1 feet |
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Throughput |
165 pounds per hour to about 364 pounds per hour |
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Number of heating zones |
8 |
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Maximum temperature |
842 degrees Fahrenheit |
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Number of cooling zones |
2 |
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Nozzle range |
5mm to 24mm |
Karen Hanna | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Karen Hanna covers injection molding, molds and tooling, processors, workforce and other topics, and writes features including In Other Words and Problem Solved for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. She has more than 15 years of experience in daily and magazine journalism.
