Michelle Vossen

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Trash printer

I want to make a printer/extruder/add-on for a printer to print with trash. Possible materials:

  • failed prints
  • paper pulp
  • fabric shreds
  • egg shells
  • fruit and vegetable skins
  • bioplastics (agar/gelatine/etc)

For most of these there are already existing (working) prototypes and even commercial or open source kits available so it’s a great starting point. The final prints don’t have to be perfectly smooth or consistent, my prints are more on the artistic/experimental side and I like irregularities in the filament. I’ll be using my largest nozzle (0.8mm) and use an Ender 3 as a starting point to modify.

There’s multiple ways to approach this project like:

Other things I want:

  • Live modification of gcode: have a sliced model (spiral vase) and be able to steer X and Y relatively > could also be a formula to change the gcode beforehand since that would be less time consuming and could use gcode analysis to see the result of the glitched model
  • Polar 3d printer: 3d printer with rotating base like a potter’s wheel > only Z and X axis traveling (https://3dwithus.com/sculpto-pro2-review-polar-3d-printing-rotating-build-platform)

Filament extrusion system

The following video by Stefen from CNC Kitchen is a great starting point.

  1. To recycle failed prints the parts have to be shredded first. This can be done with a modified paper shredder and/or with an old blender.
  2. Everything has to be 5mm or less so print a sieve with 5mm wide gaps
  3. Dry scraps in food dehydrator at 65 degrees Celsius overnight (12h)
  4. Add to extruder. Stefan has the one from Filastruder, I’m gonna follow this instructable to make my own.

Part list

Part list sheet here

Research

Material