Is there a simple device that melts down old prints and creates thread?

3D Printing
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1

Is there a simple device that melts down old prints and creates thread? Or is this just a stupid question?

2

Here some news from the great old inventor Hugh Lyman:
https://www.3dprintersonlinestore.com/the-filament-extruder-by-pastor-glenn-and-hugh-lyman
Also search on http://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=filament+extruder&sa= for filament extruder.

3

Gary it is possible to redesign this kind of device to directly print

4

There is this option , mine is coming in november
http://igg.me/at/ProtoCycler/x/5999829

5

@Dianne_Fontayne
a little expensive to only output filaments
next time try to make it print and you will drain a lot of clients

6

First you convert the plastic to pellets, then you convert the pellets to filament. People are currently working on developing an open-sourced, standardized system to do this. One guy in particular but I’m blanking on his name. He helped develop Makerbot before they went evil and he is very into standardization.

7

Why don’t they make printers to take something shaped like hot glue sticks? Too much heat during a print? I guess I have to buy a setup to understand all these things! Thanks!

8

If you want to understand more, read in some excellent diy projects!
I like:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/103539262895202172380/stream/f7014d0e-452d-4cb8-aaa1-2a9b120486b4

9

Check out this page for a pretty comprehensive list of what you want:

Pellet extruder:

Beware of weight on the extruder carriage

10

@Erich_HaHaOh
it’s not clear to me where your link have something to do with pellet ???

11

@Erich_HaHaOh The rabbit hole RUNS DEEP!!!

12

Those web pages… Geese

13

@Gary_Deen my links were a news article and a reputable 3d print file sharing website…

And did you expect something other than links?

14

@Gary_Deen you’re close than you think. FDM kinda works like a tiny glue stick.

15

I’m not complaining… Thanks for the feedback. I was just commenting on the people seeing 3d printer people as a market.

16

Check out filastruder, I think their design is based on the original design. You might be able to find links from there to open source designs.

However, I think one of the problems with recycling filament on a personal level is the extra contaminants that make their way into the filament.

17

Tim here, from Filastruder.

The main hurdle, as is the case with most recycling projects, is economic. The cheapest shredders/grinders on the market today cost around $400 and with raw material coming in at around $10/kg shipped, that’s 40 kg of failed prints to break even. Most folks won’t produce 40kg of failed prints in their lifetime.

You can compare that to a Filastruder, which costs $300 and saves around $15/kg. Then after 20kg of filament produced, you’ve broken even. That is a lot more reasonable, but even then doesn’t make sense for everyone.

Pellet feed printers will likely never work as well as filament based printers due to retraction - you can’t really retract an auger based extruder.

18

Comprehensive and helpful. Thanks @Tim_Elmore . And even a little bit of marketing snuck in :wink:

19

I was looking to see if this should definitely be part of an initial purchase, or wait to see if I start making copies or myself, laptop case, car fender, etc… (I’m joking!) Thanks.