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SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Filastruder → water or milk bottles
Has anyone tried pushin plastic water or milk (2) bottles thru a paper shredder then stuffin that thru a filastruder? I'm gettin a filastruder as soon as my taxes roll in !!!! I'M SOOOO Excited I can taste it. my fila love runs deep.
Yep,
Instead of cutting though it seemed to stretch and tear slightly which wasn't what I had in mind for putting through the Filastruder.
I haven't tried a crosscut shredder yet but I'm holding high hopes.
The first one I tried was a "normal" office shredder but I don't think it was a cross cut model.
I've found that shredders go up a class/price point for every security level they do. ie. thin strips/ short length thin strips / "confetti " / grinder / spaghetti pasta maker.
I'll get the make and model details of the one I used so you can avoid that in your search.
Other than that I've used the perforated product from my first experiment (ripped/cut up the lengths) with a hand blender and a fairly thick, tall tuperware container but it seems to turn into particulate matter which is what the MSDS says is the only real problem working with HDPE. (HDPE dust in the air can cause irritation in the lungs)
I have almost resigned to finding the closest plastic recycle station and asking for a kilo of their end product... almost. 
HDPE/LDPE/PET don't print very well, even virgin material. If you are purchasing a Filastruder solely for that reason, I'd suggest re-evaluating.
Tim,
Could HDPE be utilized (as a low cost alternative) for a purging compound changing between colours or materials?
I don't see why not, though I've never tried it.
I believe it runs through the system between 170 and 180 but I don't have the exact results off the top of my head.
I ran some HDPE dust and bits through the Filastruder and it came out looking comparable to ABS but a little darker (could have been running temp too high).
The "bits" wouldn't have been any greater than 6-7mm on a side.
I have some pigment still in the barrel from running some stuff through so I'll see how much is left after I run some HDPE through the barrel.
I should probably record temps, measurements and weights this time around for surer results.
thanks for the info ! This is all very helpful ! That is not the sole reason for a Filastruder (It was your sweeet Youtube video) sooo soft . lol . I got a pellet guy a couple miles away. Maken nick nacks from recycled material is my goal . luckyphil you sparked my imagination! I see a device in my head were the blender is mounted on the side or top to eleminate over choppin my scrap . OR I can get a SLAP CHOP ! Thanks again for all your imput. Being a broke SOB can force you to come up with some intresting work arounds.
The process I'm aiming for would be to get the HDPE from jug to Filastruder feed stock.
Once that accomplished, whack it in the ole Filachopper and turn it into second grade/try out/draft printing stock or injection molding fodder...
It's getting it from jug to feed stock with no mess, no fuss that is the main speed bump at the moment.
Curious if the "Reclaimer" from Filabot: ""**Cant post link so google those 2 words**""would be a good way to get recyclable materials to melting materials? Basically my brother just bought a 3D printer, on order, and I want to up him with an investment in being able to print sustainably, hopefully from the recycling bins on the street but we shall take it one step at a time...
So if this grinder by Filabot produced sizes good enough for the Filasturder, the Price Point has me sold, not to mention the much lower power draw by the Filastruder but what is anyone's experience using soda bottles and milk jugs to create a viable filament for 3D printing purposes using the Filasttruder or being able to with additives? Any good ratios of something to add to restrengthen and still use a high percentage of recyclables???
Any help would be awesome! I just quit my job recently due to bad conditions and the rise of 3D printing and its markets can revolutionize the world overnight, ready to get started! Thanks in advance!
No one really knows what the reclaimer is - it's only a CAD rendering at the moment.
The only shredder I know of that exists is Marcus Thymark's, but I think he's stopped selling them.
Finally, HDPE/PET (milk jugs/soda bottles) doesn't print great. Many useful threads on RepRap forums.
A big problem with sourcing from the re-cycle bin is removing the labels, you want your material absolutely clean.
Then keeping the types of plastics separate and then colors.
Ralph
I may be beating a drag horse by bumping this thread, but it's the best hit I found on Google... @elmoret could you please point me toward the reprap forums threads that you were talking about? Cannot find them 
http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?184,145146
I have been attempting to extrude PET water bottles. I have been shredding them with a cross cut paper shredder. I find I have to put it through a few times tho. Then I have to dehydrate the moisture out (I use a food dehydrator) And yes the first step is to clean them. I am still testing but it is hard to get all the same plastic as some bottles melt at different temps
SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Filastruder → water or milk bottles
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