3D Printed Monolithic Catamaran: Pic(s) of the Week
Caracol and V2 Group collaborated to bring this large-format additively manufactured boat to life, and into the water.
Source: AM Media (left) | Caracol (right)
This week’s pair of Pics show the result of a collaboration between V2 Group, a Spanish company specializing in the design, engineering and large-format 3D printing for nautical and naval applications, and 3D printing technology company Caracol AM.
The full-sized, functional catamaran (which we first spotted at Formnext 2025) was 3D printed in just under 6 days. The boat’s monolithic structure minimizes assembly and also provides enhanced structural integrity.
According to a press release from Caracol, the project was conceived to lay the groundwork for future industrialization of boats constructed using 3D printing.
V2 Group (and other marine manufacturers) are interested in large-format additive manufacturing for boat construction as a means of reducing lead times and material waste; this catamaran takes this aim a step further using recycled polypropylene reinforced with glass fiber as its material.
LFAM also offers greater ease of customization, enabling manufacturers to provide tailored solutions without added complexity in manufacturing.
Following this successful demonstration, V2 Group and Caracol will work to continuously improve the manufacturing process for industrialization.
- 3D printer: Caracol Heron 400 with High Flow extruder and 8-mm nozzle
- Material: 30% glass fiber-reinforced recycled polypropylene (rPP)
- Print time: 160 hours
- Finish: Gel coat and paint
- Weight: 1,200 kg
- Size: 5 by 2.3 by 1.5 meters
Related Content
-
Pic of the Week: The "Wall of Shame"
This wall of sample parts is not a record of failures, but an educational tool for training employees on errors to watch for — and a reminder that the additive process can have variation at any step.
-
Pic of the Week: Robotic Additive Manufacturing Cell
It’s not the metal part being produced that we’re highlighting. Rather, it’s that robots and additive manufacturing consolidate an entire production workflow into this one-stop production cell.
-
Pic of the Week: 3D Printed Composite-Reinforced Airfoil
Commissioned by NASA, a student-led contract manufacturing business has 3D printed airfoils from composite-reinforced plastic filament.
