Yes, there are companies that can make filament from your plastic, such as Filabot, Precious Plastic, and Felfil. These companies offer machines and services that allow you to recycle plastic waste into 3D printing filament, which can save you money, reduce environmental impact, and enable you to create custom materials and colors.
What is filament and why is it important for 3D printing?
Filament is the material that is fed into a 3D printer to create objects layer by layer. It is usually made of thermoplastics, such as PLA, ABS, PETG, or nylon, which can be melted and extruded by the printer nozzle. Filament comes in different diameters, colors, and properties, depending on the type of printer and the desired outcome.
Filament is one of the most essential and expensive components of 3D printing. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global 3D printing filament market size was valued at $1.3 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.8% from 2020 to 2027. The demand for filament is driven by the increasing adoption of 3D printing in various industries, such as aerospace, automotive, medical, education, and consumer goods.
However, filament also poses some challenges and limitations for 3D printing enthusiasts and professionals. First, filament can be costly, especially for high-quality or specialty materials. Second, filament can be wasteful, as a lot of plastic is discarded or left unused after printing. Third, filament can be limited, as not all colors, textures, or properties are available or compatible with every printer. Fourth, filament can be harmful, as some plastics can emit toxic fumes or leach chemicals when heated or disposed of.
How can you make filament from your plastic?
One of the solutions to these challenges is to make your own filament from your plastic. This means that you can recycle plastic waste, such as bottles, bags, containers, or failed prints, into new filament that you can use for 3D printing. This way, you can save money, reduce waste, create custom materials, and avoid harmful emissions.
To make filament from your plastic, you need a machine that can shred, melt, and extrude plastic into a thin and uniform strand. There are several companies that offer such machines, either as ready-made products or as DIY kits. Some of the most popular ones are:
Filabot: Filabot is one of the pioneers and leaders in the field of filament making. It was founded in 2011 by Tyler McNaney, who launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund his idea of a desktop filament extruder. Since then, Filabot has developed a range of products and services, including shredders, extruders, spoolers, dryers, pellets, and custom filaments. Filabot claims that its machines can make filament from almost any plastic, including PLA, ABS, PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, PC, and more. Filabot also offers a recycling program, where you can send your plastic waste to them and receive filament in return.
Precious Plastic: Precious Plastic is a global community of people who are passionate about solving the plastic pollution problem. It was started in 2013 by Dave Hakkens, a Dutch designer who wanted to create a low-cost and open-source solution for plastic recycling. Precious Plastic provides online resources and tutorials on how to build and use machines that can shred, extrude, inject, and compress plastic into new products, including filament. Precious Plastic also connects people who want to start their own plastic recycling workshops, share their creations, or support the movement.
Felfil: Felfil is an Italian company that specializes in filament extruders. It was founded in 2014 by a group of engineering students from the Polytechnic University of Turin, who wanted to create a simple and affordable device that could turn plastic waste into filament. Felfil offers two models of extruders, the Felfil Evo and the Felfil Spooler, which can process various types of plastics, such as PLA, ABS, PET, HIPS, TPU, and more. Felfil also sells pellets, accessories, and spare parts for its machines.
What are the benefits and challenges of making filament from your plastic?
Making filament from your plastic can have many benefits, such as:
Saving money: By recycling plastic waste, you can reduce the cost of buying new filament, which can range from $10 to $50 per kilogram, depending on the quality and type of material. According to Filabot, you can make filament for as low as $0.10 per kilogram, if you use recycled plastic.
Reducing waste: By reusing plastic waste, you can divert it from landfills, oceans, or incinerators, where it can cause environmental damage and health risks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans generated 35.7 million tons of plastic waste in 2018, of which only 8.7% was recycled. By making filament from your plastic, you can contribute to a circular economy, where resources are used and reused efficiently and sustainably.
Creating custom materials: By mixing different types of plastics, colors, or additives, you can create unique and personalized filaments that suit your needs and preferences. For example, you can make glow-in-the-dark, wood-filled, metal-filled, or conductive filaments, by adding phosphorescent, wood, metal, or carbon powders to your plastic. You can also experiment with different blends, ratios, and temperatures to achieve different properties, such as strength, flexibility, or transparency.
However, making filament from your plastic also has some challenges, such as:
Requiring equipment and skills: To make filament from your plastic, you need to have a machine that can shred, melt, and extrude plastic, as well as a spooler that can wind the filament. These machines can be expensive, bulky, or complex to operate, depending on the model and quality. You also need to have some basic knowledge and skills on how to use and maintain the machines, as well as how to process different types of plastics.
Ensuring quality and consistency: To make filament that can be used for 3D printing, you need to ensure that it has a consistent diameter, roundness, and tolerance, as well as a uniform color, texture, and composition. These factors can affect the printability, reliability, and accuracy of your filament and your prints. To achieve quality and consistency, you need to have a precise and stable extruder, a reliable and accurate spooler, and a clean and dry plastic feedstock.
Following safety and legal regulations: To make filament from your plastic, you need to follow some safety and legal regulations, such as wearing protective gear, ventilating your workspace, disposing of your waste properly, and complying with local laws and standards. Some plastics can emit harmful fumes or particles when heated or shredded, which can cause respiratory or skin problems. Some plastics can also contain toxic or restricted substances, such as BPA, phthalates, or lead, which can pose health or environmental risks. Some plastics can also be patented or trademarked, which can limit your usage or distribution rights.
Making filament from your plastic is a possible and beneficial way to recycle plastic waste into 3D printing material. There are companies that can make filament from your plastic, such as Filabot, Precious Plastic, and Felfil, which offer machines and services that can shred, melt, and extrude plastic into filament. By making filament from your plastic, you can save money, reduce waste, and create custom materials. However, you also need to consider the challenges of making filament from your plastic, such as requiring equipment and skills, ensuring quality and consistency, and following safety and legal regulations.
