A Zenodo indexed study examines the mechanical properties of 3D printed parts made with extruded waste plastic filament, highlighting a persistent challenge for recycled material programs: proving consistent performance beyond the filament spool.
recycling
Can The Resin 3D Printing Waste Problem Be Solved?
A new research paper looks at something resin 3D printing has never been particularly good at: dealing with what happens to the leftover material after printing.
Design of the Week: ECHO Chair
This week’s selection is the Echo Chair by ZHA and Nagami Design.
PA12 Tire Rubber Composites Get SLS Stress Test
Researchers have tested PA12 and ground tire rubber composites for Selective Laser Sintering.
DLR Develops LPBF Aluminum Alloy From Scraps
Researchers at DLR say they have identified a LBPF aluminum alloy made from scrap that prints crack free with low porosity.
Depolymerizable 3D Printer Resin Enables Repeated Recycling of3D Prints
There’s a 3D printer resin that can apparently be reused, over and over.
Plastic, Petrochemicals, and the 3D Printing Industry’s Role in a Growing Global Challenge
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi take a closer look at how the growing global plastics crisis is colliding with the future of manufacturing, and why the 3D printing industry may become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
EOS Patent Targets Higher SLS Powder Reuse
EOS has filed a patent application that could make polymer powder reuse in SLS more efficient.
Study Tests Recycled FGF Polymers For Dental Models
A new paper proposes that pellet-based Fused Granular Fabrication using recycled polymers, which could make dental and orthodontic models cheaper and greener.
LOOP Filament Recycler Shows Little Progress as Launch Dates Continue to Slip
It’s time for an update on LOOP, “the world’s first desktop 3D filament maker”.
Study Maps Reuse Paths For SLS Waste Powder
A new study looks at something many SLS operators already know oh too well: old powder piles up.
Microplastics May Be an Even Bigger Problem Than We Thought
New research adds a troubling new dimension to 3D printing waste: it may be contributing not only to pollution, but also to climate change.
Why Recycling 3D Printer Scraps Will Never Work
Perhaps this is a controversial viewpoint, but I am now thinking that recycling of 3D print waste is a lost cause.
UK Service Turns Desktop 3D Printing Waste Into Filament
A UK company provides a regional recycling loop for desktop 3D printing waste.
Researchers Examine Circular Paths For Bio Derived 3D Resins
A new research paper looks for possible ways for bio derived photopolymer resins to make resin 3D printing more sustainable while keeping print speed and part quality intact.
3D Print Recycling Firm RecyclingFabrik Pauses Intake to Develop Next-Generation Process
RecyclingFabrik is expanding.
Microgravity System Recycles SLA Resin And Enables Casting
A new research paper describes a closed-loop installation to recycle SLA resin and support injection casting in microgravity.
Design of the Week: X Bench
This week’s selection is the X Bench by The New Raw.
Why Recycling 3D Printed Plastic Remains Difficult Despite Growing Interest
Everyone wants to recycle their 3D prints, but it is quite difficult to do so. Here’s why.
Creality Officially Launches Filament Maker M1 and Shredder R1 Recycling System
It’s official: Creality has released their filament recycling system, the Filament Maker M1 and Shredder R1.
Creality Teases M1/R1 Filament Shredder and Extruder for In-House Filament Recycling
Creality is to launch a filament recycling system, the M1 / R1.
Erika Prints Offers Scrap-to-Filament Program to Recycle Desktop 3D Printing Waste
Want to recycle your 3D print scraps? There’s a way that can lower your material costs.
Patent Proposes Magnetic 3D Printing Of Recycled FRP
A new patent outlines a way to recycle fiber reinforced plastics waste into magnetically aligned, FFF-printed composites.
Plasma Coatings Tune Recycled Composite Filaments For FFF
Researchers used atmospheric plasma to tune recycled composite filaments for FFF.
ExtrudeX, a Low-Cost, DIY Filament Extruder for 3D Print Waste
A new desktop filament extruder has appeared on Kickstarter.
Why Desktop Recycling Struggles: Molecular Limits of Reusing 3D Printer Thermoplastics
Is it really possible to recycle 3D printer thermoplastics?
Design of the Week: X Bench
This week’s selection is the X Bench by The New Raw.
3D Printed Dissolvable PCBs: A New Path to Recyclable Electronics
Researchers have developed a way to 3D print recyclable PCBs.
Researchers Develop Nickel Catalyst to Recycle Mixed Polyolefin Plastics
Researchers have found a way to recycle mixed polymers, or at least some of them.
10 Creative and Practical Ways to Deal with 3D Printer Poop
What exactly do you do with all that 3D printer poop that’s accumulating in your workshop?
Why 3D Print Waste Remains Unrecyclable
There are multiple difficult barriers to effective 3D print recycling.
Could LAHB Be the Future of Sustainable 3D Print Filament?
Researchers have investigated the biodegradability of LAHB, a material that has properties of PLA and PHB.
New Enzyme Targets PET Plastics, Opening Path to Sustainable 3D Printing Materials
Researchers have developed a unique enzyme that can decompose PET material.
FOODres.AI 3D Printer Gives Food Waste New Life as Objects
A pair of MIT graduates have developed a fun and clever way to minimize the amount of food waste sent to the landfill.
Is the Original Ender-3 Now Obsolete? Why Donating It Might Not Be the Best Option
I read a post where someone was asking what they should do with their aging Ender-3 3D printer.
New DARPA-Funded Project Aims to Enable 3D Printing With Scrap Metal
A new project hopes to develop a way to enable widespread 3D printing of scrap metal.
Managing IPA Waste: Disposal and Recycling Options for Resin 3D Printer Operators
Resin 3D printer operators always have an issue to deal with: disposing of IPA.
SpecOptiBlend Software Solves Color Challenges in DIY Filament Recycling
There’s new software that can help sort 3D print scraps for recycling into properly coloured filament.
GreenGate3D Leverages Industrial Recycling to Offer 100% Recycled PETG Filament
GreenGate3D offers a wide selection of “green” PETG 3D printer materials.
Filabot Offers Modular Filament Production Systems for Custom and Recycled 3D Printing Materials
Filabot is one of the very few manufacturers of desktop filament production equipment.
New “Cookbook” Offers Biopaste Recipes for Eco-Friendly 3D Printing Alternatives
A researcher at The University of New Mexico School of Engineering has developed a “recipe book” for sustainable 3D print materials.
Fraunhofer IFAM Develops High-Purity Polypropylene Filament from Consumer Plastic Waste
Plastic waste is becoming a massive issue, and solutions to deal with 3D printer waste are emerging.
Researchers Develop Reverse 3D Printer: The “Unprinter”
The 3D printing industry has made incredible strides over the past decade, but one nagging problem persists: what happens to the prints you don’t want?
The Fate of Old 3D Printers: Why Donations Are No Longer an Option
There could be a spot in the local landfill for your aging desktop 3D printer.
Piocreat Hints at New Pelletizer for 3D Printing Waste Recycling
It seems that Piocreat is about to release a “pelletizer”.
From Retired Jets to Replacement Parts: The Sustainability Revolution in Aerospace
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi explore how the convergence of aircraft recycling and 3D printing is driving sustainability and efficiency in the aerospace industry.
Can the PETFusion 2.0 Truly Deliver DIY Filament Production from PET Bottles?
A new Kickstarter project hopes to enable home production of 3D printer filament from recyclable bottles.
A Deeper Look at Stratasys’ ReLife and PowderEase Sustainability Solutions
We had a chat with Stratasys about their latest innovation, ReLife.
Stratasys Unveils Third ESG Report, Highlighting Advances in Sustainable 3D Printing
Stratasys issued their third ESG report, continuing their work in sustainable 3D printing.
3devo’s Filament Maker TWO Offers Enhanced Control and Precision
We had a look at 3devo’s new Filament Maker TWO.
Researchers Develop Recyclable Resin for Sustainable Printing
A recent paper shows a new style of 3D printer resin that could potentially be recycled.
voxeljet and Partners Develop Method to Reuse SLS Waste Powder for HSS
Interesting news from Voxeljet: they’ve found a way to reuse waste SLS powder.
New Stratasys Software Repurposes Waste PA12 Powder for Sustainable 3D Printing
Stratasys announced an intriguing new method of reusing waste SLS powder.
New Research Identifies Promising Solutions to 3D Printing’s Microplastic Waste Problem
Two new research papers suggest there are possible ways to help solve the microplastic crisis.
MIT Researchers Explore 3D Printed Glass as a Sustainable Alternative to Concrete in Construction
MIT researchers have developed a method to use sustainable glass as a structural building material.
Recycling Fabrik Offers 3D Printer Waste Recycling for Sustainable Filament Options
A European filament producer offers the ability to recycle certain polymers.
How Fishy Filaments is Scaling Sustainable 3D Printing with Recycled Fishnets
If you haven’t heard of Fishy Filaments, you will today.
How Printerior is Making 3D Print Waste Recycling a Bit More Accessible
Most people want to recycle their 3D print waste, but have no options to do so.
Marine Fungus Breaks Down Plastics: A Potential Solution for 3D Printer Waste?
A development in the microplastics situation has arisen, which could eventually be of interest to 3D printer operators.
Fully Recyclable Resin Developed by University of Birmingham Researchers
Researchers have developed a new type of resin for 3D printing that can be fully recycled.
Virginia Tech Researchers Aim to Revolutionize Wind Turbine Sustainability Through 3D Printing
Researchers at Virginia Tech have taken on a big challenge: making wind turbines sustainable.
Polystruder Unveils GR PRO: AI-Powered Plastic Shredding
I’m looking at a pair of new plastic shredders from Polystruder.
Innovative Research Offers Hope for Recycling 3D Printing Materials
There’s been another development in the science of recycling polymers that could affect 3D printing.
Revolutionary Enzyme-Based PLA Recycling Method Discovered, Transforming 3D Print Waste Management
A surprise breakthrough could enable easy recycling of PLA, the most common 3D printable material.
3D Printing Gives New Life to Glass Waste
Charles R. Goulding and Andressa Bonafe sit down and chat with Alex Stiles, co-founder of Vitriform3D.
Desktop Filament Machines: How Quality Challenges Are Finally Being Overcome
I had a thought about the future of self-made 3D printer filaments.
Eradicating Microplastics: ORNL’s Solution to the Plastics Recycling Dilemma
There has been an incredibly important development in the field of plastics recycling.
Enhancing 3D Print Recycling: The Proposal to Add Recycling Stamps
My proposal to allow 3D print slicers to emboss recycling stamps has generated some interesting ideas.
The Rise of Reverse Logistics: Charles Trent’s Innovative Auto Deproduction
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi explore the driving factors of the auto de-production model and how 3D printing can enhance this concept.
Simplifying Powder Cleanup: Solukon’s SFM-PCU for Metal 3D Printing
Solukon announced an interesting powder collection unit.
Eco-Friendly Innovation: Enzyme Discovery Offers Hope for PET Recycling
Researchers have found a way to decompose PET material.
Making 3D Print Recycling Easier: A Proposal for Slicing Software Developers
I’m increasingly disturbed by the pile of waste 3D prints I am generating, and I have an idea that might help recycle them.
Incus and ESA Collaborate for Lunar 3D Printing: Recycling Scrap Metal for Moon Base
Incus has completed a project that verified the possibility of 3D printing metal objects from scraps on the Moon.
Innovative PET Recycling: Researchers Develop Electricity-Based Method
Researchers have developed a new approach for recycling PET thermoplastic using electricity.
New AM Materials Round Up, June 29, 2023
Several new AM materials were announced in past weeks.
3D Printing Meets Sustainability: The Promise of Truly Recyclable Material
New research could result in a 3D print material that is truly recyclable.
Introducing Polystruder: Recycling Waste Prints into Quality Filament
Polystruder adds to their suite of filament production equipment.
Resin 3D Printing Hack: How to Recycle Dirty IPA
There is an incredibly simple way to recycle dirty IPA from resin 3D printing.
Prusa Research Issues First Sustainability Report
Prusa Research has issued its first ever sustainability report.
Enzymes to the Rescue: A Potential Solution for 3D Print Waste
New research on advanced enzymes may eventually lead to solutions for the 3D printing industry.
Sculpteo Launches RE-cycleo: A New 3D Print Recycling Program
Sculpteo recently announced a new recycling program for unwanted 3D prints.
Rethinking Plastic: How 3D Printing and Industry Giants Tackle the Recycling Challenge
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi look at the work being done by several major plastics producers to increase sustainability through 3D printing.
Analyzing the Economic Benefits of Green Fab Lab Network for 3D Printing Waste
I’m reading a paper analyzing the economic effectiveness of the Green Fab Lab Network concept.
A New Way to Reuse 3D Print Scraps: RecyclingFabrik’s Recycling Service
A new 3D print recycling service has emerged in Germany: RecyclingFabrik.
Zero-Emission Steel Production: How Can Additive Manufacturing Assist?
A research paper on a future zero-emission steel future has implications for additive manufacturing.
Haddy: The New 3D Printed Furniture Startup
A new 3D print-based furniture venture has launched: Haddy.
BeeHex Is Developing a Way to 3D Print Food From Plastic
We haven’t written about BeeHex for quite some time, but it turns out they’ve been developing an unusual food 3D printing technology involving plastics.
RePPA: A Game Changer for Resin 3D Printer Post-Processing and IPA Recycling
A company has launched an accessory to post process resin 3D prints and recycle the solvent!
Is It Time For 3D Print Material Biodegradability?
I read about a new sustainable polymer being developed, and had a thought about sustainability in the 3D print world.
Is the ReCreator 3D’s Pultrusion Method a Good Thing?
I’m looking at an interesting open source hardware project, the ReCreator 3D.
Another 3D Company Announces a Sustainability Initiative
It’s gradually becoming the norm to have a sustainability program if you’re in the AM space.
Why Isn’t There an IPA Recycler?
Many things are recycled in 3D printing, but what about IPA?
Recycling Auto Parts and 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi look at recent trends in the automotive industry.
Essentium Announces Major Recyclable Materials Partnership
Essentium announced today a major materials partnership with Braskem that should provide new types of 3D print materials.
Equipment Refurbishing Savings and 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi examine the concept of refurbished items and how 3D printing could help move it forward.