Joshua R. Taylor
The Recreator 3D - PET#1 Pultrusion Unit
Make DIY 3D Printer Filament From Plastic Bottles
Reduce, Reuse, Recreate…with The Recreator 3D!
Thanks for your interest in The Recreator 3D’s Converted PET Plastic Bottle Filament. We hope that this gives you a great idea of what this filament can do for your production needs and what owning a Recreator 3D can do for you!
The Recreator 3D is 100% free as a community build. With the idea further adapt PET#1 recycling to be more accessible to every person in an even easier way. With this goal; we'll reshape our future's recycling methods, one bottle at a time!
Using The Recreator 3D PET1 Pultrusion unit; you'll pultrude stripped down bottles to reform into a useable high grade weather and heat resistant filament, equal to commercial equivalents like PETG, ABS and ASA.
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The Recreator 3D - http://recreator3d.com/ was established in 2020,
originally created with the XViCO X3S 3D Printers. Using It's base structure; a few accessories, and a handful of 3D Printed parts.
While releasing the initial free build notes and video of the MK3, a small run of 25 units were produced inhouse by JRT3D - http://jrt3d.com/ the first two Quarters of 2021. Primarily delivered in the USA, a unit even made it's way to a trade school in Iraq. With complications on supply chain; the X3S printers soon became scarce and unattainable, and with community request expanded the project.
Since then the project has had several revisions, expanding away from MK3 and now uses an Ender 3 among the MK5 Universal Kit. We run several support groups for our Recreator3D Build's growing user base.
Facebook MAIN: https://www.facebook.com/groups/recreator3d
Facebook FRANCE : https://www.facebook.com/groups/recreator3dfrance
Discord: https://discord.gg/AhPRjYXVJm
The free files can be found at Printables.com:
https://www.printables.com/model/179820-turn-pet1-plastic-bottles-into-3d-filament-with-th
Already 3D printers are vastly becoming items that are thrown away as freely as plastic bottles. Not only does this unit help stop plastic waste, it also helps us look at our aging technology as new viable forms of functions. Thus giving a new life and purpose. The Recreator 3D MK5Kit was made to be a universal solution for the use of most standard aluminum extrusions i3 style FDM printers.
The Recreator 3D - Mk5Kit: Ender 3 is one of the cheapest and easiest options available for PET#1 pultrusion for 3D printing filament. It’s method of pultrusion is not a 100% solution to ending plastic waste, but is the easiest way to reclaim waste as usable filament. For under $220 (even cheaper in some options) these units can be created by average people and turn homes into small recycling centers as well manufacturers among 3D printing.
- Unit Build Notes and Parts to Buy can be found here:
http://recreator3d.com/mk5kitender3
- Operations Manual can be found here:
Our desire is to see the community expand the MK5 Universal Kit's main LCD and Driver board parts to further adapt to other branded 3D printers that may be considered e-waste. Sharing back to the Recreator3D community will allow other members to also use these modifications and the idea will expand beyond.
We've had a great response from the 3D Printing community and these are just a handful of videos out that showing off The Recreator 3D and PET Pultrusion!
We're also working on our latest build, MK6 : Fun Size. It's currently in BETA as this becomes an eventual parts kit for our community members who desire a kit solution instead of salvaging a former 3d printer or secondary parts. We're working hard to make sure it's easy for everyone!
The free files can be found at Printables.com:
https://www.printables.com/model/352729-turn-pet1-plastic-bottles-into-3d-filament-with-th
Right now we have this LIVE Build video, but are working hard to have a shorter dedicated video to release with the kits. Less talking and more building. Though the above video is filled with a lot of great information!
“Roaming the streets on the eve of Recycling Day. Searching and scavenging for PET#1 in recycling bins. Fighting off Racoons and befriending Skunks for protection. The Captain aims to collect a massive amount of plastic to stop The spread of the Evil and vile, Carbon Footprint! Tune in next week for another Adventure!”
Download and Print our Mascot, Captain Recreator! https://www.printables.com/model/159587-captain-recreator-by-wekster-for-recreator3dcom
You can find our Live Videos and Tutorials @JRT on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@JRT3D
Learn all about different techniques and ideas about PET1 and 3D Printing.
https://github.com/joshuartaylor/TheRecreator3D
We've attracted many like minded makers for the last couple years, mentored and inspired other branded pultrusion units. With keeping Recreator3D.com build users in mind; we try our best to keep the topics of conversation Recreator3D related, this helps to avoid confusion in build advice and techniques.
With the above in mind, we've started The following Facebook Groups:
PET Pultruders United - https://ppu3d.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/petpultrudersunited
This group is for all PET Pultruders regardless of shape, size or creed. A place to get ideas, talk shop about the overall process and current trends.
Recycle3d.xyz - https://recycle3d.xyz/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/recycle3d.xyz
A group for home recycling, DIY methods and machines. Showcasing and sharing varying methods for new ways of recycling; mainly intended for 3D printing, but thinking beyond into new experimental methods as well!
What can we recycle at home? This can cause the stop of carbon footprint at our houses. We can help change how we recycle and use our waste!
When The Recreator 3D project first got started; we were first using our suggested Bottle Cutter of choice, the PBACC Tool : https://plasticbottleandcancutter.com/
The Team from Plastic Bottle and Can Cutter was awesome enough to team up with The Recreator 3D project and offer their cutters at a discount to our community. It's one of the best commercial tools we tested in our PET1 Pultrusion.
The company operates and distributes from Ukrain, so it can take upwards to 4-5 weeks to receive. While the ongoing war initially brought the project conflicts, we introduced The Community Bottle Cutter which is offered free along with the MK5Kit build.
The Community Bottle Cutter was introduced with the MK5Kit release as a DIY option. With no intentions to compete with PBACC; sadly while they were not able to operate due to the conflicts when the war initially broke out, the Community Bottle Cutter served it's place until sales were opened back up for PBACC.
The Community Bottle Cutter Files can be found at Printables.com
https://www.printables.com/model/154015-the-recreator-3d-community-bottle-cutter-recycle-p
Our easy visual flow chart for strip width; created by Recreator 3D Group Member, https://www.facebook.com/NickJAllDay Nick Jones
We’ve included this info to easily guide you along in your first time use of this experimental filament. This filament is drawn and formed through a heated source via a pull drawn method known as, Pultrusion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pultrusion
Our filament is actually similar to a straw, with a hollow inside. The outer diameter is formed through the nozzle (any size can be drilled), ours is around 1.75mm. With the Expansion of this material as well the nature of it being hollow…this diameter can be within an “ish” variant.
With the above in mind – We’ve found increasing our Favorite Slicer’s Flow Rate to 130% has allowed us to bypass this variant.
Please use the filament wisely. We suggest the smaller amounts be used first among your initial calibrations. Once you’re happy with your settings – Try something with the larger amounts.
We’ve found that this filament needs to be cooled - With no cooling the filament can transition to a crystallized state causing some clogging. If you find your filament is not properly bonding – You can increase your Flow Rates within your Slicer. We’ve found using the following Slicer Settings has allowed for us to print successfully. If you find this not to be the case, please reach out to us via our Facebook Group Account.
The Recreator 3D PET1 Filament suggested slicer settings using CURA 4.8 and Ender 3
Printed in a PET#1 Coca Cola Soda Bottle
#3DBenchy - The jolly 3D printing torture-test by CreativeTools.se
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:763622
- Layer Height...............0.2mm
- Nozzle Temp..............260C
- Bed Temp...................70C
- Flow...........................130%
- Initial Layer Flow.......130%
- Print Speed ...............30%
- Fan.............................15%
- Retraction..................4.5mm%
- Retraction Speed…....40
Thanks for your time and interest.
If you've made it this far, you're awesome!
Please feel free to reach out and connect!
JRT
Joshua R. Taylor