3D printing filament recycling for a more sustainable library makerspace

Abstract

3D printing services are an increasingly popular offering in many academic library makerspaces. However, failed prints, and simply the printing process itself, can generate substantial waste. Through a grant from a regional library consortium, the feasibility of recycling waste 3D plastic and reconstituting it into new 3D printing filament was explored and tested. Other 3D printing makerspaces on campus have asked about recycling waste filament or providing that material to the library to recycle. This paper will discuss the methodology, benefits, and challenges of recycling 3D printing filament in an effort to make 3D printing more sustainable.

Keywords:

• 3D printing
• sustainability
• recycling
• zero waste
• makerspaces

Acknowledgements

1. This research was conducted under a grant from the Northeast Florida Library Information Network (NEFLIN) to explore the feasibility of recycling waste 3D printed plastic.

2. The authors would like to thank Professor Christopher Batich of the University of Florida Department of Materials Science and Engineering for providing the stress testing equipment and graduate student assistance.

3. The authors would like to thank Anton Paar for the use of the Anton Paar MCR 92 Rheometer through their VIP academic research program with the University of Florida.

Additional information

Funding

This research was conducted under a grant from the Northeast Florida Library Information Network (NEFLIN) to explore the feasibility of recycling waste 3D printed plastic. NEFLIN Innovation Project grant number 1819-NEFLIN-06.