CARACOL
HERON AM
The Heron AM is Caracol's large format additive manufacturing (LFAM) platform for producing large, structurally complex composite components. A 6-axis robotic architecture combined with continuous fibre-compatible material extrusion enables processing of glass and carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastics.
System Overview
The Heron AM is a modular, robotic large-format additive manufacturing platform built around industrial 6-axis robotic arms with reach up to 3.9m (extendable via 7th-axis rail).
The system is configurable around four pellet extrusion heads - HA, HV, HF, and xHF - with throughputs from 2 kg/h up to 75 kg/h and process temperatures up to 450°C. All extruders are designed to handle a range of thermoplastic and composite pellets, including recycled and bio-based materials.
| Extruder Technical Data | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Extruder Type | High Accuracy (HA) | High Volume (HV) | High Flow (HF) |
| Weight | 16kg | 45kg | 75kg |
| Dimensions | 800mm x 300mm x 150mm | 1150mm x 550mm x 300mm | 1500mm x 550mm x 350mm |
| Max Throughput | 2kg/h | 12kg/h | 30kg/h |
| Heat Zones | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Max Temperature | 350°C | 450°C | 450°C |
| Cooling Zones | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Nozzle Size Range | 1mm - 5mm | 2mm - 8mm | 5mm - 18mm |
| Dryer | 75L; 10kg/h | 75L; 10kg/h | 150L; 25kg/h |
Industry Applications
Architecture
Custom façades, structural formwork, bespoke interior elements, and full-scale architectural prototypes.
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Software
Caracol’s Eidos Manufacturing software is developed and tailored for Heron AM platforms. The Eidos suite handles everything from slicing to fleet management. Eidos Builder supports planar, angled, non-planar, conformal, and surface-based toolpath strategies across 6+2 axes, with full collision and singularity simulation pre-production.
Eidos Nexus layers on real-time process monitoring, data logging, predictive maintenance, and AI-enabled automation, providing the visibility and control infrastructure needed to scale from single-cell operation to multi-system production environments.
Optional Upgrades
Every system can be configured beyond its standard specification to suit your production environment. Speak to our team to discuss what's possible for your application.
AUTOMATIC TOOL CHANGER
Automatically swap out the 3D printing extruder to equip the robot with a milling spindle.
xHF EXTRUDER
Maximize throughput, precision and material flexibility, with advanced plasticization and thermal control.
LINEAR TRACK
Print bigger parts by increasing the working envelope of the robot with a linear rail.