For questions concerning the reuse or disposal of previously used materials.
Questions tagged [recycling]
15 questions
38
votes
2 answers
How to recycle filament material from printed parts?
Is it possible to re-use ABS or PLA filament material from printed parts?
If so, what is the techniques to reform it?

kenorb
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21
votes
4 answers
What to do with failed/unwanted 3D prints?
I am planning on getting a 3D printer soon and I was just wondering, what do you do with 3D prints that either failed or were prototypes that you no longer want?
I tried looking online but the closest I got was effects on environment, turning prints…

Koppany Horvath
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19
votes
6 answers
Can I mix ABS and PLA when recycling filament?
I'm thinking of recycling some filament from a couple of recently failed prints. I can reuse them in the future for basic prototypes, so I'm not concerned with whatever weird mixture of colors come out (they are of a few different colors).
The thing…

HDE 226868
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16
votes
3 answers
Uses for PLA scraps
I recently got a 3D printer and have been experimenting with it a lot, resulting in a lot of failed prints (as well as successes, fortunately).
I'd like to, if possible, find a way to reuse the material from these failed prints. I am thinking about…

P...
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13
votes
3 answers
Making your own filament
I"m considering making my own filament, with a device like the one at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:380987. Partly because it's another machine to build, which is cool, but also to save money on filament.
Has anyone here tried to make their own…

TextGeek
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9
votes
2 answers
Using the end of a spool
I've seen several Q&As on recycling and reusing plastic from failed prints, but what have you done with the last few meters of filament? I've been keeping the ends of PLA (or sections I needed to cut) to maybe use for friction welding pieces…

Jesse Williams
- 265
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9
votes
3 answers
Can I really throw failed PLA prints on compost?
So they say PLA is biodegradable. But I still don't know how much biodegradable.
I live in a flat and we have composting trash can in the courtyard. However if I throw PLA in there and it does not decompose, neighbors are gonna be pissed since many…

Tomáš Zato
- 512
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8
votes
2 answers
Finding a shredder for my failed prints
I would love to re-use my failed prints by re-extruding the plastic to be used in the 3D printer once again. One thing that stands in my way is finding an effective way to shred the plastic into smaller bits for the extrude to use. What is a good…

Ljk2000
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6
votes
2 answers
Optimal ratio of fresh to used nylon powder
I am operating a laser sintering machine, using polyamide 2200 powder (with a grain size of approximately 50 micrometers). During a print, a lot of powder goes unsintered and can theoretically be reused. However, using purely recycled powder…

Tom van der Zanden
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6
votes
1 answer
Treating PLA (Polylactic acid) plastic to make it biodegradable
I am using PLA for 3D printing, and I know it does not degrade well in the wild. I would like to know if there is a chemical process I could use to treat it at home.
Specifically, I am looking for a cleaner alternative than throwing my 3d printing…

JCSB
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3
votes
2 answers
Print paper or cellulose - any recyclable filament?
I know there is a 3d printing technique, where sheet of papers are cut and glued. Like the ones Staples has in their stores. But this sort of paper isnt recyclable, because of the heavy use of glue.
Is anywhere filament available, which is made of…

FrankL
- 250
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2
votes
3 answers
Plastic bottles to filament
Is there a machine (for hobbyists) that will make filament based on the type of plastic I put in. I will sort the plastic before I will put it in the machine.
I have seen the filabot but this uses only plastic from previous prints not plastic types…

Varun W.
- 297
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2
votes
3 answers
Melting 3D printed scraps: Burns up
Every time I try melting a scrap piece of plastic it ends up turning brown, smelling, and smoking before even melting down completely. My entire home ends up filled with cancerous fumes and there's no way I'm baking any food in my oven ever again.…

AzulShiva
- 73
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2
votes
1 answer
Cleaning IPA with the help of Mercury wash-and-cure?
I have seen that you can clean used IPA from resin by putting it in the sun a while, making the resin dissolved in the IPA cure. Could I do the same thing just using the cure-mode in with the Elegoo Mercury wash-and-cure-station?

Ulf
- 21
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0
votes
1 answer
Is it possible to manually 3D print on an uneven surface?
I chipped off a bit of my otherwise perfectly usable laptop battery and would like to rebuild it. Consider the following picture:
Now compare it to what is visible e.g. here. I'm curious if it's possible to point a few cameras from a different…

d33tah
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