Group 9 – Grinder Winder Extruder Pelletizer (GWEP)

Team Members

Jordan Rhymer, Shadi Rachid, Tristan Jackson, Diego Martin Ruiz-Olivares, Graham Olmsted, Braden Lord, Jason Decker, and Garrett Leath

Abstract

The objective of the design project was to synthesize a fully functional filament recycler with four subcomponents: a grinder, an extruder, a winder, and a pelletizer— making the GEWP Filament Recycler a prized standard for its completeness. Research within the filament recycling market reflected a range of features for industry products, something GEWP wanted to standardize with the creation of an affordable and fully functioning system. Goals for the project were centered around manufacturability, efficiency, maintenance, user effort, cost, and aesthetics. The final design was realized in a manner that best met these expectations; featuring a spiral cutting single shaft grinder, vertical single screw mechanism extruder, CAM follower-based winder and rotating blade pelletizer, all of which make use of both the tabletop and floor. This allows for complete recycling of common filaments without the need to buy another product. In the system, filament is fed into the grinder then automatically pushed into and heated along the extruder screw until it exits a nozzle. Heat is then removed from the filament via a cooling tower, whereupon rerouting with rollers, it is pushed through a sensor box. From here, the filament can either be inserted into the winder to complete the process or inserted into the pelletizer to further refine its properties. A key feature is the ability to connect to the system and digitally display key parameters at each stage. This allows for intervention with the already set control systems so that the user can make manual adjustments if need be. With the usage of a filament recycler, engineers, hobbyists, and students alike can avoid producing as much waste with their 3D prints and get more usage out of their filament than ever before.

Pitch Video

3D Interactive Product Model

The following is an interactive 3D model of the product design. You can view and rotate the product assembly in different orientations and views, including an exploded view to see the various parts that make up the assembly.