At the upcoming JEC World trade show, to be held from 10 to 12 March 2026, Thermwood will showcase the capabilities of its LSAM AP510 additive printer by live printing a pair of drone moulds from advanced carbon fibre reinforced polycarbonate. The demonstration will take place every day of the event in the live demonstration area located in Hall 6. Materials from different suppliers will be used each day, namely Airtech, Sabic and Techmer PM. The finished drone bodies produced from the moulds by Thermwood’s partner, the Aria Group, will also be on display.
“At JEC World 2026, we are live-printing a carbon-fibre reinforced polycarbonate drone mould, demonstrating how this integrated approach supports industrial composite tooling for aerospace and automotive applications,” says Duane Marrett, Vice president of marketing, Thermwood Corporation. “A live demonstration shows immediately what LSAM can really do. It proves that the technology is production-ready, not a concept or prototype. Seeing the system operate in real time builds confidence and creates more meaningful discussions about scale, precision and real manufacturing use.”
The LSAM additive printer is equipped with a unique fixed gantry, a 5’x10′ moving table, a maximum print height of 4′ and a maximum print temperature of 450°F (232°C). A fume extraction system is integrated to draw printing fumes through specially designed activated carbon filters. A single or double hopper polymer dryer is included. It is also possible to obtain an enclosure surrounding the machine.
Thermwood will also present an interactive demonstration twice daily showing visitors how LSAM technology prints and finishes large-scale thermoplastic parts with high precision, speed and efficiency. In addition, the company will showcase the wide range of materials and designs available, as well as some of the patented features of LSAM systems. Collaborative projects, ongoing research initiatives and case studies will also be discussed.
Tooling lead times reduced by up to 65% and costs lowered by 50%
“LSAM can reduce tooling lead times by up to 65% and lower costs by as much as 50% by minimising material waste and manual labour. Additive manufacturing also offers flexibility, allowing rapid design changes, faster prototyping and easier scaling to production,” Duane Marrett adds.
Eduardo Barocio, director of the Composites Additive Manufacturing and Simulation (CAMS) Consortium at Purdue University’s Composite Manufacturing & Simulation Center, will also be on hand to demonstrate Additive3D software, a tool capable of simulating workflow and predicting the printing and manufacturing performance of parts produced by extrusion deposition additive manufacturing. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to Thermwood’s industry experts. Visitors can also ask questions to Thermwood’s usual team at their booth, P52 in Hall 6.
“While the demonstration focuses on printing, LSAM is designed for hybrid manufacturing, combining additive processes with 5-axis CNC trimming. This integration is essential to achieve the accuracy, surface quality and speed required for large composite moulds,” concludes Duane Marrett.
