Affordable Filament Recycling?
TLDRThe video script details a DIY project to build an affordable and practical filament recycling setup for 3D printing waste. The creator shares their goal to construct a compact, reliable, and community reproducible system under $1500. They discuss the environmental impact of 3D printing, the challenges of existing recycling solutions, and their strategy for sourcing components, including a shredder kit and materials for the frame. The script also delves into the assembly process, highlighting the creator's learning curve with welding and frame construction, and teases upcoming steps in the project.
Takeaways
- 🌿 The video outlines a project to build a practical, affordable filament recycling setup for 3D prints.
- 🚀 The goal is to convert wasted filament into usable, functional material, reducing ecological impact.
- 🗑️ 3D printing generates waste such as failed prints, support structures, and purge lines.
- 🌍 Companies like Recycling Fabrik are pioneering in recycling failed prints into new filament but are overwhelmed with plastic.
- 💡 The project aims to create a compact, reliable, and reproducible filament recycling station under $1,500.
- 🔄 The recycling setup will be designed to fit in a home or small office, and be accessible to the community.
- 🛠️ The first step involves building a shredder using a kit from Precious Plastic, a collective promoting plastic recycling.
- 🔧 The video details the challenges and considerations in sourcing parts and assembling the shredder and frame.
- 🔩 The motor for the shredder needs to be powerful and slow, with considerations for single-phase or triple-phase power.
- 🔄 The frame assembly involves repurposing materials and overcoming obstacles like alignment and stability.
- 🎥 The series will continue to document the process of wiring, electronics, motor attachment, and extrusion setup.
- 💌 The creator encourages community engagement and learning, aiming to share the final cost breakdown and success of the project.
Q & A
What is the main goal of the video series?
-The main goal of the video series is to build a practical, affordable filament recycling setup that allows anyone to turn wasted 3D print filament into usable filament.
What are some of the environmental benefits of 3D printing mentioned in the script?
-The environmental benefits of 3D printing mentioned include reducing the need for transportation, allowing for fixing things instead of replacing them, and reducing waste.
What is the problem with current commercial solutions for shredding old 3D prints?
-Current commercial solutions for shredding old 3D prints are either prohibitively expensive or incredibly unreliable, with costs reaching thousands of dollars and not offering extrusion capabilities.
What are the requirements for the filament recycling station the speaker wants to build?
-The requirements for the filament recycling station are that it must be small enough to fit in a home or small office, reliably and durably produce a reasonable amount of filament, be reproducible by the average community member, and be reasonably affordable.
What is the speaker's budget for the entire filament recycling project?
-The speaker's goal is to spend less than 1,500 dollars on the entire filament recycling project.
How did the speaker source the materials for the frame of the shredder?
-The speaker sourced the materials for the frame from local 'free hardware stores' which are actually sites of buildings scheduled for demolition, as part of a volunteer effort to reclaim and recycle raw materials destined for landfills.
What was the total cost of the shredder kits and what was the strategy to offset this cost?
-The total cost of the two shredder kits was 700 euros shipped, which is 758.48 dollars. The speaker planned to offset this cost by selling one of the kits locally.
What is the role of the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) in the project?
-The VFD is an electronic device that will control the motor speed and direction, allowing the motor to spin at the desired low RPM with high torque, without the need for a physical gearbox.
What challenges did the speaker face while building the frame for the shredder?
-The speaker faced challenges such as lack of experience in welding, having to cut and weld various pieces to make the frame work with the motor they had, and dealing with the motor's high RPM which required a VFD for speed control.
What are the next steps in the project after assembling the shredder and frame?
-The next steps include dealing with wiring and electronics, attaching the motor to the shredder, building a hopper to feed the plastic, creating a lower shelf to collect the shredded plastic, testing the setup, and eventually extruding the shredded material into usable filament.
How does the speaker plan to share the outcomes of the project?
-The speaker plans to share the final cost breakdown and keep the audience updated on how successful they have been in recuperating their investment by producing usable filament for themselves or the local community.
Outlines
🌿 Introduction to Filament Recycling
The speaker introduces a new series focused on building a practical and affordable filament recycling setup for 3D printing. They confess to hoarding wasted filament and discuss the environmental impact of 3D printing. The goal is to create a solution that can recycle failed prints into usable filament. The speaker also talks about the limitations of current commercial solutions, which are either too expensive or unreliable, and sets out the project's scope and challenges, emphasizing the need for a compact, reliable, and reproducible system that is also affordable.
💡 Project Scope and Challenges
The speaker elaborates on the project's requirements, including the need for a small, reliable, and durable filament recycling station suitable for home or small office use. They aim to produce a reasonable amount of filament for personal and community use. The project must be reproducible by the average person, using readily available designs or products. The speaker sets a budget of $1,500 for the project and discusses the potential impact of such projects, including the possibility of saving tons of filament from landfills.
🔧 Sourcing the Shredder and Materials
The speaker describes their search for a suitable shredder, eventually finding a solution through the Precious Plastic community. They order two shredder kits and discuss the costs involved, including shipping and import duties. The speaker also talks about sourcing materials for the frame from local 'free hardware stores' – sites of buildings scheduled for demolition. They mention the use of PCBWay for custom parts and the importance of choosing the right motor for the shredder.
🛠️ Building the Frame and Motor Mount
The speaker details the process of assembling the shredder unit and the challenges faced in building the frame. They discuss the importance of having a sturdy and level frame for the shredder to function correctly. The speaker admits to being out of their depth with the steelwork but perseveres, eventually creating a frame that, while not perfect, is functional. They also discuss the process of creating a motor mount for the motor they purchased, which did not come with the necessary mounting brackets.
🔋 Next Steps and Future Plans
The speaker outlines the next steps in the project, which include wiring and electronics, attaching the motor to the shredder, building a hopper for feeding plastic, and creating a collection system for the shredded plastic. They also discuss the upcoming challenge of extruding the shredded plastic into usable filament. The speaker expresses their intention to share their progress and learnings, and encourages viewers to follow along for an informative and enjoyable journey.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡3D printing
💡Filament recycling
💡Waste reduction
💡Shredder
💡Precious Plastic
💡Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
💡DIY (Do It Yourself)
💡Budgeting
💡Community engagement
💡Sustainability
Highlights
The speaker has been hoarding wasted 3D print filament for a year with the intention of recycling it.
The goal is to build a practical and affordable filament recycling setup that can be replicated by individuals or small communities.
3D printing, despite its environmental benefits, generates a significant amount of waste, including failed prints and purge lines.
Companies like Recycling Fabrik have shown that recycling 3D print waste into new filament is feasible, but they are currently overwhelmed with plastic waste.
The speaker is motivated to recycle filament in their studio to address the increasing waste from their 3D printing activities.
The project aims to create a compact, reliable, and reproducible filament recycling station under $1,500.
The speaker sourced a shredder kit from the Precious Plastic community, which is a collective that provides open-source designs for recycling equipment.
The shredder kit and frame materials were acquired for a total of €700 shipped, plus customs fees.
The speaker is attempting to sell the second shredder kit to offset costs and help others in their community build a similar setup.
The project requires a motor with 1.8 to 2.2 kilowatts of power and a low RPM of 30 to 70 with high torque.
A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) converter is used to control the motor speed and direction without a physical gearbox.
The speaker's total cost for the project is currently $645 with duties, or $516 if customs duties are reimbursed.
The assembly of the shredder unit and frame is documented, including the challenges faced by the speaker due to lack of welding experience.
The speaker plans to document the entire process, including the successes and failures, to help others replicate the project.
The next steps for the project include wiring and electronics, motor attachment, building a feeding hopper, and testing the shredding process.
The ultimate goal is to extrude the shredded plastic into usable filament and potentially save 10 tons of filament from landfills.
Transcripts
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