Hi Russ and every one, I was just thinking  how one could recycle PVC pipe and use it to make parts for the Vic and other parts that also could be turned on the lathe, most PVC will melt at  @ 380 to 400 degrees F. So save your empty veg. cans, don't cut the lid off all the way, wash them out or not, cut up some PVC into small pieces put them in the can close the lid pop them in the oven if the wife will let you, not really, do this outside in a safe open area [ I have a lost wax investment casting oven I can use], it will stink badly, let the PVC melt, it will take the shape of the can, add more if needed but do it outside it could catch on fire because oxygen can get to it when you open the lid, or let it cool off and then add more. I have not tried this yet, I will try this tomorrow and let you know how it went, it's a way we can all save money, Jeff.:cool::D

Sounds like a cool idea... Maybe you can play with different tempering methods to make it more malleable on the lathe?? I'm not sure if tempering does anything to plastic...

Hello all, as promised, I did try to melt PVC, it did not work:(, here is a link to a video I just uploaded to my youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/nadingjeff?feature=mhee   So I did some research and found that any plastic having a triangle with the # 2 in it would be good for melting and injection molding. I have a book from http://www.lindsaybks.com/index.html that tells all how to build an injection molding machine, simple and basic,  but have not had the time to build it. This could come in handy for Russ to make the spacers he needs for the EPG or a more economical way for someone else to [no knock on Russ intended]. Well I am letting the plastic cool off before I take it out of the can, i'll post a picture of it later, Jeff. :cool::D

Ok, here is a link to how plastic is graded http://www.ecorewards.com/default/recycling101/Recycling%20101%20_%20Recycled%20Plastic%20Scrap.pdf :cool:

Quote from dirtwill on August 7th, 2011, 08:48 PM

Sounds like a cool idea... Maybe you can play with different tempering methods to make it more malleable on the lathe?? I'm not sure if tempering does anything to plastic...

Hi Will, no need to temper the plastic it's already done.

Hi all I came up with a cheap process to repair a cracked platic housing on a chain saw. I took some canvas type material I had around (had some fiberglass threads in it also) and I soaked it some cheap caulk out of a caulk gun.  I was suprised when it dried how hard it was.  I have also used this process to repair a sideview mirror housing.  It did not look factory but it held.  Also I have seen guys mix epoxy with wood dust to fill holes on RC airplanes.  Both of these would require a mold but both would be fairly inexpensive.  Just some thoughts
Oh yeah one other process I saw on the internet I thought was cool A guy was taking old blackplactic trashbags and he used a steam iron to fuse them together to make a tough thick plastic.

Quote from Blazer on August 10th, 2011, 02:13 PM

Hi all I came up with a cheap process to repair a cracked platic housing on a chain saw. I took some canvas type material I had around (had some fiberglass threads in it also) and I soaked it some cheap caulk out of a caulk gun.  I was suprised when it dried how hard it was.  I have also used this process to repair a sideview mirror housing.  It did not look factory but it held.  Also I have seen guys mix epoxy with wood dust to fill holes on RC airplanes.  Both of these would require a mold but both would be fairly inexpensive.  Just some thoughts

Oh yeah one other process I saw on the internet I thought was cool A guy was taking old blackplactic trashbags and he used a steam iron to fuse them together to make a tough thick plastic.

Hi Blazer, do you have a link to that, Jeff.:cool:

No sorry jeff no link but I was also thinking one or two pieces of vinyl siding ???

I always use food chopping boards for flat bits of plastic, and they can be lamiated togther if you want a big chunk. If you make a kebab out of it you can turn it on a lathe. The ones in my local super market are bout 8mm thick, Im probly gonna use them for the spacers on my EPG. I know its not exactly recycling but there are cheap.

Quote from phil on August 12th, 2011, 03:04 PM

I always use food chopping boards for flat bits of plastic, and they can be lamiated togther if you want a big chunk. If you make a kebab out of it you can turn it on a lathe. The ones in my local super market are bout 8mm thick, Im probly gonna use them for the spacers on my EPG. I know its not exactly recycling but there are cheap.

That's what i'm taking about Phil, good going, and thanks for sharing, Jeff.:cool::D

[attachment=184]Finally had time to take a picture of the plastic lids I had melted down, I think this would be good for machining, Jeff.

Quote from Jeff Nading on August 16th, 2011, 03:08 PM

Finally had time to take a picture of the plastic lids I had melted down, I think this would be good for machining, Jeff.

Is that your recycled #2 Plastic?

Quote from dirtwill on August 16th, 2011, 07:45 PM

Quote from Jeff Nading on August 16th, 2011, 03:08 PM

Finally had time to take a picture of the plastic lids I had melted down, I think this would be good for machining, Jeff.

Is that your recycled #2 Plastic?

Well, I don't know what the number on this plastic is, because this glob is only the lids I took off the bottles, they don't have a number on them, the lids seem to melt a little better and at a lower temperature than the bottles. I want to build a plastic injection system for molds I would also make, for all the parts I would be making out of plastic, but that is a ways off yet, going to build a shop first, Jeff.

Hey Jeff,
Have you done anymore work on recycling plastic?  I was thinking how hard would it be to make an extra large extruder similar to what is on the RepRap.  Have the nozzle be some where around maybe 5mm diameter, then stretch it down to 3mm till it's cool, then spool it up.... for printing.:cool:  Maybe some kind of steel tube chamber with some kind of actuator or hydraulics to force a soup can sized block of plastic through the extruder.  Good idea, bad idea?

Nate

Quote from firepinto on September 21st, 2011, 02:10 PM

Hey Jeff,
Have you done anymore work on recycling plastic?  I was thinking how hard would it be to make an extra large extruder similar to what is on the RepRap.  Have the nozzle be some where around maybe 5mm diameter, then stretch it down to 3mm till it's cool, then spool it up.... for printing.:cool:  Maybe some kind of steel tube chamber with some kind of actuator or hydraulics to force a soup can sized block of plastic through the extruder.  Good idea, bad idea?

Nate

Nate I have been thinking the same thing,:huh: I had cast an aluminum vessel to melt plastic in under air pressure, made a SS case for it , bolted an electric heating element underneath it with a by-metal thermostat to control the heat, I had built this last year, just have not had time to do anymore with it because of HHO project, got put on the back burner so to speak, so it is already in the works, been thinking about it more lately though, with the second Prusa I thought I would give it a try, good idea, great minds think alike:D:P

I haven't taken the time to fully read this, but looks like a good idea for extruding recycled plastic into printer filament:

http://www.appropedia.org/Waste_plastic_extruder

Reminds me of a meat grinder.:P

Nate

Quote from firepinto on October 5th, 2011, 04:28 PM

I haven't taken the time to fully read this, but looks like a good idea for extruding recycled plastic into printer filament:

http://www.appropedia.org/Waste_plastic_extruder

Reminds me of a meat grinder.:P

Nate

Hi Nate, this link here     http://reprapdelft.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/reprap-granule-extruder-tudelft1.pdf    is on the link you just sent, it shows a small version of a waste plastic extruder, uses a small stepper motor, I like it better, I know I could build one , I might when this project is done, good reading and thanks for the link.

@Jeff Nading

There is a forum thread at Energetic Forum on recycling plastic and making diesel fuel from it. A bit off topic, but lot's of discussion that loosely may relate.
It's 38 pages long, several guys very into it, I'm sure, at least there is some useful info for you, there, if and when you delve into this stuff again.

http://www.energeticforum.com/renewable-energy/7040-how-turn-plastic-waste-into-diesel-fuel-cheaply.html

Cheers

@Jeff Nading

There is a forum thread at Energetic Forum on recycling plastic and making diesel fuel from it. A bit off topic, but lot's of discussion that loosely may relate.
It's 38 pages long, several guys very into it, I'm sure, at least there is some useful info for you, there, if and when you delve into this stuff again.

/renewable-energy/7040-how-turn-plastic-waste-into-diesel-fuel-cheaply.html

Cheers

Quote from kcarring on January 15th, 2012, 01:33 AM

@Jeff Nading

There is a forum thread at Energetic Forum on recycling plastic and making diesel fuel from it. A bit off topic, but lot's of discussion that loosely may relate.
It's 38 pages long, several guys very into it, I'm sure, at least there is some useful info for you, there, if and when you delve into this stuff again.

/renewable-energy/7040-how-turn-plastic-waste-into-diesel-fuel-cheaply.html

Cheers

Thanks for the info kcarring :D, I have not done to much with this since this thread, but as I find the time I will check into the link you just posted, thanks.

Quote from Jeff Nading on January 15th, 2012, 05:09 AM

Quote from kcarring on January 15th, 2012, 01:33 AM

@Jeff Nading

There is a forum thread at Energetic Forum on recycling plastic and making diesel fuel from it. A bit off topic, but lot's of discussion that loosely may relate.
It's 38 pages long, several guys very into it, I'm sure, at least there is some useful info for you, there, if and when you delve into this stuff again.

/renewable-energy/7040-how-turn-plastic-waste-into-diesel-fuel-cheaply.html

Cheers

Thanks for the info kcarring :D, I have not done to much with this since this thread, but as I find the time I will check into the link you just posted, thanks.

Hello everyone!
I used a plastic pipe for making my Vic core, just heating it with a "heat-gun" without melting it and with 2mm of thickness is very strong! i also try it with 1 mm and was strong enough i think.
then i glue it with pvc glue...so almost free and easy to make!

Quote from Muxar on January 15th, 2012, 11:46 AM

Quote from Jeff Nading on January 15th, 2012, 05:09 AM

Quote from kcarring on January 15th, 2012, 01:33 AM

@Jeff Nading

There is a forum thread at Energetic Forum on recycling plastic and making diesel fuel from it. A bit off topic, but lot's of discussion that loosely may relate.
It's 38 pages long, several guys very into it, I'm sure, at least there is some useful info for you, there, if and when you delve into this stuff again.

/renewable-energy/7040-how-turn-plastic-waste-into-diesel-fuel-cheaply.html

Cheers

Thanks for the info kcarring :D, I have not done to much with this since this thread, but as I find the time I will check into the link you just posted, thanks.

Hello everyone!
I used a plastic pipe for making my Vic core, just heating it with a "heat-gun" without melting it and with 2mm of thickness is very strong! i also try it with 1 mm and was strong enough i think.
then i glue it with pvc glue...so almost free and easy to make!

That's a very good idea Muxar, thanks for sharing.

Well, I think after I print some more parts, I'm going to start on recycling plastic, the plastic reclamation shredder or the Jeff-e-nator and Jeff's filament extruder machine.:cool::D:P

Quote from Jeff Nading on March 24th, 2012, 05:47 AM

Well, I think after I print some more parts, I'm going to start on recycling plastic, the plastic reclamation shredder and Jeff's filament extruder machine.:cool::D:P

Cool Jeff,
I can't wait to see how that turns out.:)

Nate

http://filabot.com/

Filabot is a desktop extruding system, capable of grinding various types of plastics, to make spools of plastic filament for 3D printers. Not only is it user friendly, but it is also environmentally friendly. The Filabot can process things such as: milk jugs, soda bottles, various other types of plastics, and bad prints, to make new filament for a future print. Filabot will bring the real power of sustainability to 3D printing, allowing for a one stop shop to make anything

Quote from KevinW-dirtwill on July 29th, 2012, 06:12 PM

http://filabot.com/

Filabot is a desktop extruding system, capable of grinding various types of plastics, to make spools of plastic filament for 3D printers. Not only is it user friendly, but it is also environmentally friendly. The Filabot can process things such as: milk jugs, soda bottles, various other types of plastics, and bad prints, to make new filament for a future print. Filabot will bring the real power of sustainability to 3D printing, allowing for a one stop shop to make anything

Ah you beet me to it! Lol this is what we need!!!!!! Jeff, or some one, if we all chip in and get one, we can just ship plastic to that person and then ship back spools! ;) just an idea. ~Russ