Self: Diff for "3D Printer Recycling"

Goal: Recycle a plastic container by forming chips into filament and using a 3D printer to reuse the filament.

Equipment: 1. Plastics for recycling

2. 3D printer

3. Filabot Parts:

-Drill Bit

-Thermal Conducter Ring

-Insulation

-Motor

-Thermal Sensor

-Hopper Assembly

-Outside Shell

-Dye

What is a "Filabot"?

The Filabot is a machine built to break apart plastic and turn it into filament

Current Progress: (as of 12/2) Have spoken to URS about funding and have begun planning the process of turning the plastic into a filament appropriate for printing. Spent time studying 3D printing and the process of filaments as well as previous ideas regarding recycling and 3d printing. There are some discrepancies as to exactly what plastics can be recycled to create filament. Likely, the plastic in question is 01 PET/PETE which are easily broken down and melted. If printing a machine to break down the plastic bottles is a possibility then we will likely do so. If not then we are devising a way to break down the plastic by hand.

- Need to take picture of Bucky in high resolution for image to base 3D printing model. Also need to accumulate proper plastics that will work for the printer. Likely sources include Memorial Union and Union South

Rather than building a filabot, it will be purchased.

The focus of research has been honed to working on transferring photos to 3D printable images. I took into account factors like lighting, qualities of camera, and various camera angles and configurations when conducting the research.

-Below are screenshots of a Bucky Badger statue turned into a 3D printable image created with the software Autodesk 123D

Preliminary Trials:

Improved Design:

Cool Links: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rocknail/filabot-plastic-filament-maker This link describes a project to build a machine to grind down plastics into filament that is usable for printing. The project also describes which plastics are usable for recycling and which may prove more difficult for printing. This project has received over thirty thousand dollars for funding from private donators, indicating that there is an interest for these sustainability printing projects.

• http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/3-d-printing-a-recycling-machine

This article describes printing a filter to filter the air while printing to relate to the topic of sustainability.

Safety: The plastic will have to be broken down to a grade that will make filament creation possible. Other projects have used custom made machines for breaking down the plastic, however we are debating on how to do so using tools from the lab. Cutting tools always have a hazard associated with them, so proper precautions must be taken. Also, since the pieces are small, it must be ensured that no one has their fingers close to the machines when they are operating to hold them in place. However, there are also designs for building machines to grind up plastics that are online. If so, then the dangers are minimized, however there are still some electrical risks present. The building machine will run on electrical power so there will need to be precautions taken for safety.

Sustainability: Ultimately, this project can prove that you can print and recycle simultaneously with a minimal carbon footprint. By creating the plastic bottle into filament, nearly anything can be printed from a recreation of the bottle to a far more complex object. This project also goes alongside many other sustainability related projects that involve 3D printing.

Links-

http://www.wired.com/design/2013/01/filabot-plastic-recycler/

https://twitter.com/Filabot

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/04/filabot-makes-3d-printing-ink-out-of-your-plastic-recyclables/

http://www.gizmag.com/filabot-plastic-recycling/25848/

http://hackaday.com/2013/11/22/diy-filament-the-filabot-wee/

. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=can-the-3d-printer-help-green-the-auto-industry&page=2

http://qz.com/86685/the-audacious-plan-to-end-hunger-with-3-d-printed-food/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/opinion/sunday/dinner-is-printed.html

Journals

Reade, Lou. "3D print: shaping the future.." Chemistry and Industry. 8 (2011): 14-15

Thilmany, Jean. "The 3-D printing of living organs for transplant isn't far-fetched; it's almost here."Mechanical Engineering. 134.1 (2012

Pyper, Julia. "Can the 3-D Printer Help Green the Auto Industry?." Scientific American

Kim, Sandra, Matt Golding, et al. "The Application of Computer Color Matching Techniques to the Matching of Target Colors in a Food Substrate: A First Step in the Development of Foods with Customized Appearance." Journal of Food Science.

Archer, Richard, Matt Goulding, et al. "Food Layered Manufacture: A new process for constructing solid foods." Trends in Food Science & Technology

For Fun! - http://epic3dprintingfail.tumblr.com/

Add your name here to participate:

• Will Milner

• Hanwook Chung

• Ian Hill