On the topic of running recycled plastic, we have made filament using 10% and 20% regrind ABS. We have about 200 pounds of the stuff so we just started experimenting with it. The 10% printed just fine and there were no issues. My phone case is made with this stuff and it is still going strong. I have not printed with the 20% yet.

There are a few issues with recycled filament.
1. Contaminates as mentioned before. This depends on your source or how clean the plastic is.
2. The type of ABS. This can be an issue because most Filastruders are running MG94 ABS plastic. This is a high melt flow(MFI) plastic that allows for fast print speeds. So your recycled plastic could have a higher MFI or lower. This can create issue when printing. This is why I think the % of natural to regrind has to stay small.
3. Plastic has a heat memory and degrades over time. The more heat cycles done on a plastic, the shorter the polymer chains get. In extrusion this is important because you are pulling the plastic as it comes out. Unlike injection molding where the plastic can expand into a cavity. I would expect the more regrind you use, the more fragile the filament will get. PLA degrades naturally and heat cycles will only speed up this process.

I know people want to do 100% recycled but at this point I feel anything is a step in the right direction.

Rob

Did you guys order the recycled plastic or make it yourselves?

Side note: let me know when you do the kickstarter!  I missed the filastruder by a month and still looking to get one.

No more Kickstarters - just straight orders from here on out. Are you on the wait list? If not, shoot an email to filastruder@gmail.com.

They can. The Filastruder wouldn't mind a bit. The problem is the introduction of dirt and dust that could clog your printer nozzle. Really, a filament extruder needs melt filtering to do recycling well. I have one in alpha testing

Sounds exciting.  Looking forward to seeing the results when you post them.

Side note: let me know when you do the kickstarter!  I missed the filastruder by a month and still looking to get one.

There are a few issues with recycled filament.
1. Contaminates as mentioned before. This depends on your source or how clean the plastic is.
2. The type of ABS. This can be an issue because most Filastruders are running MG94 ABS plastic. This is a high melt flow(MFI) plastic that allows for fast print speeds. So your recycled plastic could have a higher MFI or lower. This can create issue when printing. This is why I think the % of natural to regrind has to stay small.
3. Plastic has a heat memory and degrades over time. The more heat cycles done on a plastic, the shorter the polymer chains get. In extrusion this is important because you are pulling the plastic as it comes out. Unlike injection molding where the plastic can expand into a cavity. I would expect the more regrind you use, the more fragile the filament will get. PLA degrades naturally and heat cycles will only speed up this process.

I know people want to do 100% recycled but at this point I feel anything is a step in the right direction.

Rob

Ralph

Looks like Filastruder is on pace to finish up the Kickstarter kits later this week, and launch the store next week. I've already bulk ordered necessary parts for the kits.

elmoret you better get more of your Filastruder's ready because I think he just brought you more business.

So where do all the plastic cans and bottles go after being recycled? Is there a local place that I can contact?

Plastic is typically downcycled.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downcycling

Relevant on 3D printing recycled plastics:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/ … atxml.html

This works because they're using a big fat nozzle, probably a couple millimeters. Contaminants aren't an issue at this size nozzle.

ABS falls in symbol 7 but all symbol 7's are not ABS.

Some containers show the symbol plus number and the plastic.

Ralph

In my area a company called waste management collects them once a week and melts them blocks and sells them back to manufacturers. They are then converted into solid plastic items like park benches and the like. Plastic is easy to recycle but the products you get or are little more difficult to deal with.