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Tag: Filabot

  • FilaMaker Will Turn Your Old Plastic Into 3D Printer Filament

    Unused plastic is everywhere. It just sits around waiting for somebody to toss it, or use it in some weird art project. Well, now you can finally do something with all that plastic thanks to a new machine that debuted over the weekend.

    3ders reports that Marek Senický showed off his new FilaMaker machine at Maker Faire Rome this past weekend. The device allows 3D printer enthusiasts to crush and melt their old plastic into usable filament.

    For the 3D printing enthusiast, the FilaMaker will be able to create filament of any size as long as you have the appropriate extruder head. It’s also able to currently produce filament at one meter per minute, but Senický hopes to have it at two meters per minute at launch.

    Check it out in action below:

    It should be noted that FilaMaker is not the first product like this on the market. Earlier this year, Filabot offered a similar machine that would melt down plastic and create new plastic filament for use in 3D printers. What sets the two apart is that FilaMaker has a built-in shredder that can reduce large plastic items into the small bits necessary for proper melting.

    [Image: thymark/YouTube]

  • Filabot Makes 3D Printing Cheaper By Recycling Old Plastic

    Filament is expensive. Ask any 3D printing enthusiast and they will agree that the cost of the plastic filament used to print objects is oftentimes overpriced. If only there was a product that let you recycle all the worthless plastic sitting around your house into usable filament. Oh wait, there totally is.

    Say hello to Filabot, a new machine that melts down junk plastic into the plastic filament used by the majority of desktop 3D printers. The machine can process a variety of plastics including HDPE, LDPE, ABS and PLA. The latter two are sold by major 3D printing companies, but now you can make your own if you’re up to melting down a few of your LEGO pieces.

    Filabot already had a successful funding run on Kickstarter early last year when the creator, Tyler McNaney, asked for $10,000. In the end, he received $32,330 from 156 backers. Sixty-seven of those backers will be receiving their very own Filabot.

    Not only is Filabot a great idea, but it solves one of the major hurdles facing 3D printing – sustainability. Not all 3D printers yet support PLA, a bio-degradable plastic. With Filabot, most plastics can now be melted down into filament to be used in future designs. It saves the creator money while putting the plastic in something besides a landfill. Now that’s what I call a win-win situation.