01 / Recover
Source the fiber.
The published project describes feedstock from end-of-life wind blades and automotive composite parts.
Case study / Caracol
Make tooling from material that already exists.
Carbon Cleanup and Caracol explored a route from recovered carbon fiber to large-format printed tooling for wind-energy applications.
The challenge
Can composite waste become manufacturing equipment?
Tooling needs a material that prints reliably and serves its intended use. At the same time, composite waste from industrial processes needs a credible second application.
The approach
Pair recovered feedstock with the right process.
02 / Formulate
Prepare printable material.
Carbon Cleanup supplied a recycled-carbon-fiber-based feedstock for large-format additive manufacturing.
03 / Print
Make a tool.
Caracol used its robotic printing platform to produce lamination tooling for smaller wind-blade applications.
The learning
Show the full route, not just the recycled input.
The project demonstrates an application pathway for recovered fiber in tooling. Suitability, lead time and environmental impact need to be assessed for each new project.
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