Hello Reprap-Community,
We are a group of students from Hockenheim/Germany, which takes part on a competition called
“FLL”(First-Lego-League).
As every year, a part of the competition is a research assignment, this year about the topics waste
prevention, waste recovery and recycling.
Out of this topic we asked ourselves following question:
“ How could we make use of our plastic waste at home?”
We got the idea to recycle the plastic waste in a granulate-3D-printer, to avoid investing into
expensive printing material.
In following we tried this out. First of all we shredded different sorts of plastic waste, which worked
well by using a document shredder.
We filled this material into a slightly modified hot-melt gun, which uses a similar principle to melt
the material as usual 3-D-Printers. With the melted resin we could create some simple forms on an
aluminium foil covered surface.
During this exercise we found out that thermoplastics as PE-LD,PP,PET, and polystyrene can be
properly used for that purpose. Some experts told us that coloring the resin should be no problem as
long as dark colors are used.
Since plastic waste often contains colorants and softeners, which are usually unknown for the
users, however could create dangerous fumes during the melting process, we attached additionally a
standard active carbon filter, as known from usual kitchen hoods.
We called our creation “REPRIPUS”. Estimated total cost are approximately USD1'000, however
this figure much depends on the selected type of the 3-D printer.
Through more detailed material indications by manufacturers waste separation and subsequent use
of materials for printing could be eased.
By using “Repripus” we all could decide what happens with our plastic waste and could create
useful things out of it.
We would much appreciate receiving your comments and opinion about our idea.