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Thermwood Corp. (Dale, Ind., U.S.) has completed initial testing of a larger melt core for its LSAM (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) systems. A melt core consists of a feed housing, extruder and polymer melt pump; its size dictates how fast material can be printed. The new 60-mm melt core has been tested with different polymers and reportedly has achieved print rates of 480-570 lb/hr. (The standard 40-mm melt core has a maximum output of 190-210 lb/hr., depending on the polymer being printed.) Thermwood says the higher output capability enables the printing of layers with 250 ft. or more bead length with most polymers. Further, the higher print rate of the new melt core, even when processing high-temperature materials, allows the print bead to be oriented along the length of the tool, even for tools that are as long as the machine table itself. Thermwood reports that the larger melt core may not be desirable for all applications, noting that many tools and molds are too small for efficient printing with the larger core. If a user needs the ability to generate small and large parts on the same machine, the melt cores can be changed in less than a shift.