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.

Current Progress: (as of 10/12) 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

Equipment: -Plastics for recycling (kickstarter link details appropriate plastics) -3D printer -Grinding machine

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.

• 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.

Sustainability: Ultimately, this project can prove that you can print and recycle simultaneously with a minimal carbon footprint. This project also goes alongside many other sustainability related projects that involve 3D printing.