Filament recycling/making system for home usage Hi guys, I am currently developing some economical system for filament recycling and making. I have two reasons for it: 1) I have A LOT of trash from my printing 2) It is very cheap to buy plastic pellets in comparison with filaments The system should be capable of shredding of the plastic trash (prints, PET bottles, ...) and then maing a filament of it. There will be probably some need for new plastics pellets, because according to my research, it is not possible to recycle perfectly 100% of trash and you need to add some percentage of new plastics. I have experiences with this kind of stuff, thus I believe I am able to make it real. I have already few prototypes and principles tested, but I would like to ask you: If this will be available on market (for reasonable - low - price) do you think it would be useful for you? Again, my idea is to make it accessible for home usage - professional, but low cost system. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813426#msg-813426 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:03:22 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,814385#msg-814385 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,814385#msg-814385
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Origamib
This method seems to be legitimately interesting: Agustin Flowalistik plastic recycling
Rather then making tight toleranced plastic filament, make loose tolerance plastic sheet for other projects. Could be laser cut, CNCed, hand cut or get a line bender Ebay: Acrylic bender.

Could be done by yourself, or as part of a larger effort with maker communities. No need for industrial recyclers, just something to smoosh it small enough for consistent melting.

This is a great idea. If nothing else, you could form the plastic into something akin to metal ingots... a block or puck shape that is more manageable to store until a future processing option is feasible, but at the same time not so dimensionally awkward as to be unusable in a print shredding machine. For example, melting puddles of plastic in a metal muffin/cupcake pan instead of a sheet.]]> Melty General Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:09:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,814185#msg-814185 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,814185#msg-814185
[www.bbc.co.uk]]]> Origamib General Tue, 13 Mar 2018 06:17:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813924#msg-813924 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813924#msg-813924 Agustin Flowalistik plastic recycling
Rather then making tight toleranced plastic filament, make loose tolerance plastic sheet for other projects. Could be laser cut, CNCed, hand cut or get a line bender Ebay: Acrylic bender.

Could be done by yourself, or as part of a larger effort with maker communities. No need for industrial recyclers, just something to smoosh it small enough for consistent melting.]]> Origamib General Sun, 11 Mar 2018 11:19:09 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813813#msg-813813 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813813#msg-813813
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SJames
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orbitalair
ABS is the same, my mailbox clasp already came apart after about 6 months. UV really degrades plastic.

400yrs poster is a useful idiot.

Well, I am talking about complete decomposition in enviroment and it takes hundreds of years... You are right, it may be seriously damaged after only few months - but even after decades, there are small plastics pieces remaining. And this is even much more dangerous, than big plastic parts or plastic bottle. It is for example eaten by animals and whole food chain may be toxicated by micro-plastics as the result of it.

That is what about I am talking, when I say, it takes 400 - 1000 years...

Beach sand analysis show grain of "plastic" !
Now there is more than plastic, heavy metal, all kind of chemicals etc...
This goes in the food chain and we are a the top.
Luckily no one above as we are inedible :)
All this has been denounced as early as the sixties. No excuse.

I use PLA to start the barbecue.]]> MKSA General Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:01:04 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813764#msg-813764 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813764#msg-813764
I do like the idea of melting it down for CNC/laser blanks though :-). I'm putting together a CNC machine and will definitely give it a try once I make enough scraps (no doubt the prototyping process will lend a hand in this).]]> Trakyan General Sat, 10 Mar 2018 08:30:55 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813754#msg-813754 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813754#msg-813754
Just because something decomposes, does not mean it is not damaging to the environment. You might not personally chuck it in the sea, but where do you think it goes when you put it in the bin? The recycling center won't touch it as there are no identifying marks to say what plastic it is. Landfill it is then! And once it decomposes, if it is lucky enough to get there in our lifetime then all those colourants and chemical additives then seep out into the surrounding soil. They then build up to dangerous levels as they pass through the food chain, likely to be consumed again by ourselves. But 3D printing is a niche hobby! why does it matter? Prusa alone sells 3000+ machines a month. Perhaps those machines use a conservative 500g a month, or 1'500kg a month combined, and this is only the plastic usage from new users. All of which is currently impossible or very difficult to recycle via traditional means.

If we don't recycle our own prints, no one else will.]]> Origamib General Sat, 10 Mar 2018 07:25:34 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813752#msg-813752 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813752#msg-813752
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orbitalair
ABS is the same, my mailbox clasp already came apart after about 6 months. UV really degrades plastic.

400yrs poster is a useful idiot.

Well, I am talking about complete decomposition in enviroment and it takes hundreds of years... You are right, it may be seriously damaged after only few months - but even after decades, there are small plastics pieces remaining. And this is even much more dangerous, than big plastic parts or plastic bottle. It is for example eaten by animals and whole food chain may be toxicated by micro-plastics as the result of it.

That is what about I am talking, when I say, it takes 400 - 1000 years...]]> SJames General Sat, 10 Mar 2018 07:19:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813707#msg-813707 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813707#msg-813707 The color would probably be ugly or "camouflage" at best...]]> o_lampe General Sat, 10 Mar 2018 02:00:13 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813704#msg-813704 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813704#msg-813704
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orbitalair
ABS is the same, my mailbox clasp already came apart after about 6 months. UV really degrades plastic.

400yrs poster is a useful idiot.

How rude!
The ABS part may have become useless for you after 6 month, but the remains are still there, right? It's not, like it disappeared from UV exposure.]]> o_lampe General Sat, 10 Mar 2018 01:46:29 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813700#msg-813700 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813700#msg-813700
400yrs poster is a useful idiot.]]> orbitalair General Fri, 09 Mar 2018 21:15:48 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813693#msg-813693 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813693#msg-813693 SupraGuy General Fri, 09 Mar 2018 18:22:27 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813672#msg-813672 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813672#msg-813672
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cwaa
How is plastic bad for the environment, unless you toss it in the ocean?

Well, it tooks about 400 - 1000 years to decompose. And there is stil more and more of plastics in enviroment - it is also "poisoning" the enviroment for animals.
Look at this - if you are brave enough: [seagazing.files.wordpress.com]
and this is only one example, how the plastics are dangerous for our planet...]]> SJames General Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:28:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813668#msg-813668 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813668#msg-813668 cwaa General Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:21:45 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813603#msg-813603 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813603#msg-813603 rich1812 General Fri, 09 Mar 2018 06:07:38 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813593#msg-813593 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813593#msg-813593 Origamib General Fri, 09 Mar 2018 04:56:35 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813557#msg-813557 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813557#msg-813557 o_lampe General Fri, 09 Mar 2018 02:04:33 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813519#msg-813519 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813519#msg-813519
Not trying to be pessimistic - I'd love to find a solution. But to do MORE than the Filastruder, and to make it economically viable to produce, is going to be a challenge...

I hope you and your project are successful. :)]]> Melty General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:06:58 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813518#msg-813518 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813518#msg-813518
I am thinking about (and also working on prototypes already) complete solution - it includes:

Grinder - to destroy old prints into a small pieces
Extruder - to make a filament
Winder - to wind a filament on coil

As far as I found on the internet, there are not so much solutions, which can do all - an if so, these solutions are quite expensive (more than 1200USD). And these are still quite amateur solutions, professional setup is more than 5000 USD.]]> SJames General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:34:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813517#msg-813517 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813517#msg-813517
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melty
Wouldn't the benchmark system be the Filastruder - $300US ?

NO as much as I like my filastruder its only half the solution, the ability to grind up the prints then turn those flakes back into pellets I think the hurdle, even filastruder guys mention problems with flakes getting caught between the auger and barrel which can stall an extruder, and a good man eating grinder can cost as much as $300... but there is hope for the makers in us grinder

filastruder still a good choice with raw pellets and a filawinder thou.]]> jinx General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:29:40 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813511#msg-813511 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813511#msg-813511
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orbitalair
I would appreciate a way to recycle my pla and abs.

The current price of $500US for a setup is too expensive for me.

Also helps to be small as possible and space saving.

Wouldn't the benchmark system be the Filastruder - $300US ?

I too would love to have an affordable way to recycle my plastic scraps...]]> Melty General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 13:36:49 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813495#msg-813495 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813495#msg-813495
The current price of $500US for a setup is too expensive for me.

Also helps to be small as possible and space saving.]]> orbitalair General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:10:01 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813445#msg-813445 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813445#msg-813445
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jinx
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SJames
I am from Czech Republic and there are plastics producers who are selling 1kg of pellets about 3 times cheaper than filaments are
can believe it , had some nice PLA from that part of the world a while back, but something happens on the way to the rest of us in the EU !:X postage and VAT seems to wipe out any saving then on top of that we have to make the stuff... dont get me wrong am all for recycling old prints and supports material. am not so keen on recycling old plastic bottle thou, just not convinced its safe ( fumes in the home).

Sure, I understand. According to my research, the fumes should be very similar to standard 3D printing - and still a lot of people are 3D printing at home, frequently directli in the living room, or even at the room where they sleep :) A proper venting of the room is of course necessary in both cases. So, unless you wil produces kilograms of filament each day, it should be perfectly safe. Of course, even this will be measured and analyzed :) In fact, there are working recycling solutions on the market, but still too expensive for home (hobby) usage.]]> SJames General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 07:54:16 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813443#msg-813443 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813443#msg-813443
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SJames
I am from Czech Republic and there are plastics producers who are selling 1kg of pellets about 3 times cheaper than filaments are
can believe it , had some nice PLA from that part of the world a while back, but something happens on the way to the rest of us in the EU !:X postage and VAT seems to wipe out any saving then on top of that we have to make the stuff... dont get me wrong am all for recycling old prints and supports material. am not so keen on recycling old plastic bottle thou, just not convinced its safe ( fumes in the home).]]> jinx General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 07:46:30 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813436#msg-813436 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813436#msg-813436
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jinx
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SJames
2) It is very cheap to buy plastic pellets in comparison with filaments
that depends where you are in the world, it cheaper to buy a budget spool than 1kg of pellets in the UK,

Thank you for your reply. I am from Czech Republic and there are plastics producers who are selling 1kg of pellets about 3 times cheaper than filaments are.]]> SJames General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 07:04:13 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813433#msg-813433 Re: Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813433#msg-813433
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SJames
2) It is very cheap to buy plastic pellets in comparison with filaments
that depends where you are in the world, it cheaper to buy a budget spool than 1kg of pellets in the UK,]]> jinx General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 06:59:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813426#msg-813426 Filament recycling/making system for home usage https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,813426,813426#msg-813426
I am currently developing some economical system for filament recycling and making. I have two reasons for it:

1) I have A LOT of trash from my printing
2) It is very cheap to buy plastic pellets in comparison with filaments

The system should be capable of shredding of the plastic trash (prints, PET bottles, ...) and then maing a filament of it. There will be probably some need for new plastics pellets, because according to my research, it is not possible to recycle perfectly 100% of trash and you need to add some percentage of new plastics. I have experiences with this kind of stuff, thus I believe I am able to make it real. I have already few prototypes and principles tested, but I would like to ask you:

If this will be available on market (for reasonable - low - price) do you think it would be useful for you? Again, my idea is to make it accessible for home usage - professional, but low cost system.]]> SJames General Thu, 08 Mar 2018 06:19:24 -0500