Printer cuts the waste
A GEELONG start-up has developed a system that adapts commercial 3D printers to use pellets made from recycled materials such as crushed plastic as its printing feedstock.
Created by Polylab, the pellet extruder offers a handful of eco-friendly advantages over 3D printing’s traditional reliance on filament fed from a spool.
Polylab co-founder Chris Larkin said the company was completing its first order with an overseas 3D printer manufacturer that was exploring whether the system, called Archie, was a fit to be sold alongside its products.
Reducing waste and recycling plastic is a key driver at Polylab, which is based in Deakin University’s advanced manufacturing incubator ManuFutures.
It is experimenting with hybrid materials combining recycled plastic and virgin stock that can be fed through its pellet extruder.
“Our aim is to close the cycle and make a true circular economy around 3D printed materials,” Mr Larkin said.
While there is potential for it to be used in industrial settings, Polylab sees schools and universities as a prime early market as it addresses the waste that’s inherent to the learning process.
Archie can be used to adapt most FDM 3D printers to print with granulated recycled plastics.
Mr Larkin, who co-founded the start-up with fellow
Deakin graduate Eli GomezKervin, said the three major benefits of the system were: PELLETS were cheaper than filament;
THERE was greater choice of materials with which to print; and
IT recycled plastics and reduced waste.
Mr Larkin said the system, which is still going through a debugging phase, had potential for use in industry, particularly for jigs and fixtures in manufacturing settings.
Using a larger printing nozzle and having pellets fed through a hopper also opens opportunities for quicker and more productive production.
Mr Larkin is looking for local manufacturers interested in trialling the technology. Polylab is also working with local companies to set up its supply chain and is planning to develop a suite of complementary products.
“What we want to also develop is our shredders, granulators and pelletisers to allow us to recycle material,” Mr Larkin said. “Our vision is to supply a whole package.”
The system is for available for pre-order at www.polylab.org.