Is there any service or person who can recycle prints in the DC / VA / MD Area? I have several kg of prints that could be reused!
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Sep '15last reply
Dec '16- 16
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I have the very same question and I have no idea. If it’s PLA it can be recycled or thrown out (it’s biodrageable )
My advice is figure out a way to melt them down and reuse the filament. That is what I am waiting for. I do not knwo of anywhere that actually recycles prints
Well that’s what i meant by recycle actually. I was looking for a way to reuse it as new filament.
We’ve actually just kicked off a recycling program 1 with 3 Hubs around the world - London, Boston and Breda (NL). @Alexander_8 is currently running the Boston Hub, so maybe he’ll be able to give you details on recycling options in your area. Hope this helps!
Anyway, it’s amazing seeing people embracing the recycling movement in 3D printing, so make sure keep us posted with your recycling endeavours. Cheers
I use a FilaMaker grinder and a Filabot extruder up in the New England area. What material is it ABS or PLA? Is it relatively clean and void of paint, glue, metal, etc? Is it sorted by color? I think there may be a VA hub already running equipment but I have to check some older forums posts to confirm. Either way there was interest in your area. Have you approached any local makerspaces to see if it something they would like to pursue?
I have not talked to any makerspaces yet… do you have anymore info on the VA hub?
In this thread Talk Manufacturing | Hubs a user in NC stated that they are fully equipped and ready to start. The user https://www.3dhubs.com/users/refilame may be the most local solution at the moment.
I’ve researched this a bit, recycling is a very detailed process aparantly and not just that easy. Especially not PLA. To make things short. Big chunks need to be fully chopped up into a grinder. The cruncher is one of them found online. There are several available, all expensive for the only thing they do, grind stuff up.
Second of all, dust settles, filth settles on your old prints, and recycling a print gives lesser quality filament.
To keep things short, reheating filament breaks down the molecule structure more and more and reduces quality of the filament.
Apparanltly a ratio of 75 % new pellets and 25 % recycled parts gives a durable and stable new filament roll. But 100 % recycle into new filament is not yet done as far as i can find.
The filth is a big problem though, filtering it out seems to be a very hard process since you need to completely liquify the PLA then filter it , and then run it through an extruder.
There are so far for the moment, no good possibilities that exist today, several of the big companies are researching it though.
I had the same suspicions until I started actually doing it.(only ABS thus far)
Yes, a grinder like this is needed Mini shredder – Filamaker 2 and it is an expensive dedicated bit of hardware. I jumped right into the 90%+ better recycle ratio and I have been astounded by the 1.75mmish filament that has extruded from my Filabot. The dust is certainly present but does not effect the finished part aside from small bubbles that gas out during the moments after it is extruded from your printer nozzle. This slightly blemished finish is not a huge factor if the ABS part is meant to be functional/strong and can be fixed with some acetone vapor finish work (also strengthens) AND these bubble can be observed in some of the commercially available recycled filament I’ve used. The dust is an issue but not one worth trying to fix IMHO. Perhaps that blemished finish could become culturally accepted and sought after because of what it represents?
25 days later
I guess the main reason to recycle the prints is to reduce the cost. If that is true, it may be better to use the low cost filament extruder with the new pellets.
This one cost about $150, http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-your-own-3d-printing-filament-factory-Filame/?ALLSTEPS 1
this one cost less than $100, Extruder for 3D printing ABS and other plastic filament
Those DIY units are a good start and the most popular commercial units use the same heated screw method. However, IMHO, the main reason to recycle prints is to recycle prints. Turning “useless” plastic scraps or fails, or even single use items, back into filament with just a tiny amount of virgin pellets added. There is a potential benefit here beyond money and we are just starting to see what cultural ramifications that may have.
I have actually built a DIY one now and it seems to be working alright. The problem is i don’t have any way of grinding the prints back into pellets
1 year later
Hello everyone,
I am going to start a D.C Metro Business where all you have to do is deliver or ship me your waste filament and I will dispose of it in a responsible way. Let me know if there is interest. Please note your filament would have to be pre-sorted by ABS or PLA. My goal in the end is to make completely recycled filament for people to buy in stores and then we can keep buying recycled and keep reproducing recycled. Size of object does not matter. Hopefully this will lead to more responsible 3D printing. Please note the goal of this is not to make money but to help the environment it is Not for profit.
Jacob