Marine architects and designers feel the need to have new technologies to produce more complex and customized parts, according to yacht customers’ desires. Heron AM can be the solution for yacht and shipbuilding companies, enabling them to manufacture superstructural parts such as yacht grids, for one-of-a-kind or small series productions.
From several points of view, lateral air grids are interesting applications for Additive Manufacturing to play a key role: their designs are made of complex, not-flat geometrical shapes; and the engineering process in traditional manufacturing still entails hand-made lamination using molds and fiberglass or metal sheet working as laser cutting, bending, machining. According to the developed proprietary software and the 6-axes robotic arm, the extrusion head of Heron AM can be positioned at various angles, also printing suspended surfaces and hollow, light, and intricate geometrical forms at 45°.
Applying Caracol's LFAM system Heron AM to this production means having the opportunity to design innovatively shaped structures with light-weight geometries without the need for molds or jigs, which finally leads to overcoming the typical time and cost constraints of the traditional manufacturing technologies while guaranteeing its quality standards.
Additive Manufacturing is also a sustainable solution if considering its environmental impact. As we carry out continuous material testing and qualification, our system Heron AM can print recycled materials. In the case of lateral air grids’ production, recycled polypropylene is mixed with 30% glass fiber. Moreover, the used raw and recycled materials concern the parts’ production only and don’t generate waste. At the same time, the process optimization, combined with the extrusion high rate, leads to up to 50% improved lead time. Finally, the digital design files are saved and can be adapted to future maintenance and spare parts needs. The overall effect for boat builders is a significant cost reduction of up to 70% according to production volumes.
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