Group 632C – ShredTech™

Up to 30% of 3D printing filament ends up as waste from failed print jobs, support structure, and purging. This waste ends up in landfills, which contributes to environmental concerns. Universities generate a significant amount of 3D printer waste, and the high cost of filament makes continued purchasing unsustainable. Additionally, the volume of waste produced exceeds the capacity for recycling. This is why ReSpool works on grinding down the waste produced, specifically for university labs, into particle sizes suitable for reprocessing. Therefore, reducing waste makes it easier for labs to recycle their 3D filament waste in-house. The ReSpool is a user-friendly benchtop 3D print waste grinder that allows users to reprocess their own waste easily. This design focuses on centralized waste collection, maximizes reprocessing using a two-stage grinder and strainer system, and makes it cost-effective for institutions to equip every lab with their own waste recycler. Due to its unique two-stage grinder and strainer design, waste is collected as high-density flakes and processed into more uniform and smaller material that is easier to recycle. The design has a collection bin that makes collection less frequent and therefore cheaper, maximizing the efficiency of the recycling process. ReSpool is a revolutionary product that will enhance the experience of students in the lab by allowing them to recycle their waste and making it less expensive for university labs to use 3D printers.