PET feedstock

Hello.

Couldn't it be possible to use PET as feedstock for newer RepRaps? Everyone can get it very cheap and as it seems it's very similar to PLA being used for developing the new RepRap.

PET needs a fairly high temp to extrude. If I recall, it's above the (stock) thermister's range, so using it would require a thermocouple (or a platinum) temp sensor. I think PET welding rod is available; don't know if anybody's tried it yet.
As for recycling, many have talked about making a machine to melt/reform bottles/other PET disposable items, but nobody has gotten that working reliably yet.
One issue is how to get the air bubbles out of the gooey melt. If you're inspired, you might succeed where other's haven't. Consider giving it a try!

-- Larry

Larry_Pfeffer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One issue is how to get the air bubbles out of the
> gooey melt. If you're inspired, you might succeed
> where other's haven't. Consider giving it a try!
>
> -- Larry


How about putting the melted plastic into a vibrating container? I've seen construction crews use vibration to remove bubbles from cement.

You could also try putting it into a centrifuge and spinning it.

I wonder if melting in in a higher or lower air pressure would allow you to get a lower viscosity without having the plastic break down into harmful chemicals...

Hello

I saw this on instructables.

If PET could be used to feed an reprap it would be fairly simple to reprap an guide for an boxcutter blade do keep the string at an constante width, and saving the painfful task of cutting it with scissors.

I would love to see this working

Cheers

[blog.reprap.org]

---

[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

do u think that PET can be source as EG for another 20 years...coming years.....to produce PEG