The “Plastic Smoothie”- Now You Can Utilize The Leftover Filament…

3D Printing is becoming more sensitive to plastic pollution that is created while printing the objects.

The biggest environmental issue that comes along with 3D Printing is the leftover plastic filament or spool after printing your  3D object.

Throwing away the filament in the trash is the only option you are left with as there are broken pieces of it and joining them is a costly process as there comes a  filament fuser or joiner which many enthusiasts have already experimented making. The below video explains how with the help of easy tools you can join the filaments.

 

There are many methods to recycle the filament and use it the next time, but the method shown in this article is more interesting and leads you to better 3D objects.

Designer Agustin Flowalistik shows us how to recycle 3D printing waste by creating a Plastic Smoothie, which can 0be used with a laser cutter to create vibrant objects. 

Agustin Flowalistik came up with an easy and cheap way to recycle failed designs and leftover filaments by making a concoct of a Plastic Smoothie. He uses the kitchen appliances and laser cutting technology you can create new objects with the endless array of color. After collecting all the leftover filament and making it into a finely shredded plastic scrap, melt the colorful mess of plastic in an oven.With this freshly baked sheet of recycled PLA, you can get creative using a laser cutter and a bit of vibrant imagination.

We give a brief overview of the “Plastic Smoothie” project below so you can get what the project is about. He shared it on Instructables and was developed with the help of non-profit TecnoLab La Rueca Asociacion  to increase the quality of life and well-being of disadvantaged communities. You can know more about how to effectively use plastic by controlling pollution here- Worry Not!! You Can Now Reuse Waste Plastic For Your 3D Prints.

Philosophy of the project

Affordable:  Electrical appliances are used for most of the projects as it is cheaper to use

Accessible: the machines used should be easily available in online stores.

Open: It’s an open source project and anyone can be a part of it.

What do you need?

The first thing that you need is an abundance of PLA filament scraps and failed prints.Also, an access to a laser cutter that you will find on Fablab or a local makerspace. If you want to know more about laser printing read here 3D Laser Printing is different from what you think.

There are other supplies needed for starting the plastic smoothie project, this is the checklist:

• Wood panels (40 x 30 x 0.3cm)
• Laser cutter (Flowalistik uses the Epilog Mini 18 40W)
• Blender (recommended 1250 Watts or above)
• Mini Oven (with oven tray)
• Parchment paper

Flowalistik shares some tips to make this project affordable, like using an old blender if you have any as if you start using it to shred plastic you won’t use it for making juice.Before using failed prints make sure to break them before blending them.You won’t want your blender to get damaged. He uses PLA for the project as ABS contains impurities.

Putting it all Together

The first step is gathering and blending your PLA filament, you can take the opportunity to decide the colors and textures you want to create. After the recycled plastic is shredded up, take an over. Flowalistik uses oven paper on the base of the tray, bending the corners to avoid any molten plastic from spilling oven tray and start baking.

After experimenting the maker found that the best results by melting the small plastic bits at 190-200 C for 20 – 25 minutes. After the plastic straps are melted, you need to quickly remove them and flatten them out on the wooden panels. Perform the pressing procedure quickly as the melted plastic cools down. Keep the oven paper on the plastic and add as much weight as you can onto the wood panels, and you’ll have a perfect sheet of recycled PLA.

Finally, Flowalistik uses an Epilog Laser Mini 18 40W laser cutter to cut the 3mm plastic panels. You can use the same settings as you would for a 3mm sheet of acrylic. The designer adds that he had to increase the power of the laser in order to make the engraving more apparent.

You can learn more about the Plastic Smoothie project and the laser cutting process on Flowalistik’s Instructables post. If you want to continue supporting the designer and his intriguing projects, head on over to his Patreon page.

Plastic pollution is what we are dealing with every day and thus we have to take every possible step to stop it. So do join the “Plastic Smoothie” project and get rid of all the plastic extras and failed prints.

Geeetech enlightens you on such projects which will help you save the environment.

Credits: instructables.com,all3dp.com

Troubleshooting: What to do when your supports fall apart?

As you continue to model and 3D print various objects, you’ll find that many of them will need support structures to hold the design up. And the more complex the object, the more crucial it is to design a good support structure.

However, on some occasions, you may find your support fail to do its job resulting in a failed or messy print.

The 3D Printing Problem-

While printing your object, you’ll realize that your support doesn’t look as stable as it should. There may be gaps and it may even fall apart or crack in some places. Weak supports are also stringy and overall your print just looks like a hot mess(not in a nice way!)

Slicer Settings

Most of the time we tend to stick to the default slicer settings provided by the slicer applications. This may work for standard print jobs, but while printing more complex objects it is important to change these settings. For objects like supports, your default slicer setting will not always work. The more complex the object and overhangs, the more attention you have to pay to the slicer settings.

Type of support used

Thinner support structures are easier to remove but are not always strong enough and can break apart during your print process. On the other hand, stronger supports are denser but are much harder to pry off. At the same time, thinner supports may move easily if there are any sudden movements or vibrations from the 3D printer itself.

Many a time, tall and intricate prints will have delicate and thin supports so that they come off clean without ruining the print. Though this sounds good in theory, this kind of support doesn’t offer much stability to tall prints. Triangular and grid-shaped supports work better as they add additional structure under large overhangs.

Problem with the filament

Filaments that are old or cheap are weaker and tend to break more easily which is another reason why your supports don’t hold up. Old and expired filaments won’t bond easily to each other and the structure can tend to have more gaps and cracks.

Lastly, don’t forget to keep an eye on your printer. Many times, there are a few loose screws and nuts that can create vibrations during the print and if your support structures are not strong enough they will fall apart.

How to fix it?

Modify your support structures

Rather than choosing thin and delicate supports, opt for grid or block shaped supports that can easily take the weight of overhangs without breaking down. You can choose triangular supports for objects that do not have sufficient adhesion to the print bed starting out with a strong base.

Another cool thing to do is using water-soluble support material like PVA glue. In this way, you can increase the support density and make block shaped supports without having to worry about them coming off.

Ensure sufficient adhesion

For a strong foundation, your 3D print must stick to the print bed. To increase this adhesion you can use the help of brims and rafts. Once your support has bonded to the print platform, it reduces the chances of it breaking or slipping off.

Use another filament

If your filament is old or absorbs too much moisture it can cause problems during your print job. You can check out our easy guide to store your filaments correctly and prevent common problems like snapping and stripping. And if the problem is indeed with the filament then change the filament and run a test print to see if there are improvements in the supports. Alternately, avoiding buying cheap which will tend to break more easily.

Increase the support density

Supports that are thin will be more prone to breaking and falling apart. So to make your supports stronger, go into the slicer settings and increase the support density.  This will make your support sturdy but on the other hand, it will be tougher to remove them from your 3D print.

Tighten the grub screws

If the pulleys are not secured there will be many shifts and vibrations. This can shake the print and cause the supports and other parts of the print to wobble. To fix this problem, use an Allen key and tighten all the grub screws.

Credits: ultimaker.com, formloabs.com

Can you 3D print a 3D printer?

3D printers can pretty much print just about anything. It’s even possible to 3D print your very own gummy candy now. So it only makes sense that we should be able to 3D print a 3D printer itself, right? Well, the answer’s a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. But let’s takes a look-

From prosthetic arms and organs to 3D printing an entire house, it’s safe to say that 3D printing has come a long way and changed our lives like never before.

However, one question that we’re all curious about is Can you 3d print a 3d printer?

Is It Possible?

Most of it- Yes! A 3D printer can print out most of the parts that you will need to build your own 3D printer. The structural components that make up a 3D printing machine can be printed and assembled even though the process itself would be time-consuming. But 3D printing the electronic parts is certainly more complex.

Reprap- The 3D printer that prints itself!

 

RepRap was the first ever self-replicating 3D printer designed for the purpose of 3D printing another one! Developed in 2008 by Dr. Adrian Bowyer, RepRap can print more than 50% of the components required to assemble a whole new 3D printer and the best part? It’s open source and freely available so anyone can make one! In addition to this, RepRap uses FDM technology which means the 3D printed parts can easily be made using the popular ABS and PLA filaments.

However, some of the electronic and metal parts especially a fully functioning motor are still hard to 3D print though there have been several attempts.

This means that although you can print most of the parts of a new 3D printer, we’re still not all the way there. 3D printing an entire motor and other mechanical parts are not something that can be done easily even if we use metal and other materials.

The good news?

Since 3D printing is an ever-evolving industry, we’re sure it’s only a matter of time that we print a fully functional 3D printer complete with the electronic and mechanical parts.

But until then, we can use RepRap! And since it’s an open source project free for all to use, you can build a 3d printer right from your home. In fact, Reprap’s Prusa i3 is one of the most used 3D printers in the world!  And with a comparatively lower cost and easy-to-assemble 3D printer kit, it’s easy to see why.

Apart from this, you can even check out Geeetech’s very own Prusa I3 A Pro 3D printer which is a great DIY kit and super easy to assemble!

Credits: reprap.org, space.com

Troubleshooting: Here are some easy ways you can prevent layer shifts

The 3D Printing Problem–

Your print may start out looking fine but as it progresses, you notice a shift in between the layers. It looks similar to a step and this effect is known as a layer shift. It may be subtle or could end up ruining your print entirely!

Why does it happen?

There are many different reasons that contribute to shifting in the layers so its hard to pinpoint it to just one. The most common, however, are the slipping of pulleys and loose grub screws but it could also be something as simple as nudging your printer and causing a disturbance in the print job.

How to fix it?

Fix the Print Bed firmly in place 

Check the print bed to see if there are any clips or screws that have become loose. Since printers have detachable print beds it’s a common problem that occurs but also one that can be fixed easily with the help of pliers.

Similarly, ensure that the printer is on a stable and secure base as well as kept in an area where it is not prone to being knocked or hit. You’ll notice that even a small disturbance to the printer during your print job can cause shifting or other layer issues.

Fix the grub screws

When there are sudden shifts in layers, it’s most probably due to one or more pulleys not secured properly to the axis/axes. You can check this when your layers start to shift and notice the pulleys moving and consequently tighten the respective grub screws. Use a small Allen to tighten them.

Check the belts

Another important thing to check is the tension of the belts. You can adjust the belt position to ensure the tension is the same between all the belts. However, if the problem persists and if you’ve had your printer for a while then you should probably change the belts.

Fix stiff rods by oiling them

Rods can get stiff and encounter resistance over time which affects the print and causes shifts in the layers. Ideally, the print head should move around easily without resistance. you can perform a simple check to test this.

Turn off the power and check the head by moving it manually in both X and Y direction. If the head moves around stiffly then its time to oil the rods with some light machine oil.

Check the alignment of the rods

Misalignment in rods is another reason that contributes to stiffness. Again perform a check by moving the head to the left/right side and consequently to the front/back of the printer. The distance between the sliding blocks and the pulleys should be equal on both sides. If the axes aren’t square you can fix this by loosening the screws on the two pulleys of one rod, adjust the sliding block and then re-tighten the screws.

Apart from this, check if your rods are bent by removing them and rolling them on a flat surface. You’ll instantly realize if they’re deformed or bent and can replace them.

Check for warped layers

Warping takes place when there is uneven cooling between the layers which results in the edges rising up. If this happens, the print can release from the bed and this makes is much easier for the layers to shift. You can combat warping by adjusting the speed of the cooling fans but if the problem continues, check out our Troubleshooting Guide To Fix Warping.

Decrease the print speed

Many a time, the reason could simply be that your printer is printing too fast. A clicking sound heard during the print job indicates this and you should first check to see if the filament is slipping and if not, then proceed to reduce the print speed by going into your slicer settings.

Credits: rosso3d.com, doubltjumpelectric.com, ultimaker.com, 3dprinting.stackexchange.com

Best 3D Rendering Software you need to have…

Rendering involves giving life to your 3D designs by adding the simulation of shadows, realistic lighting,  atmosphere, texture, color and optical effects such as the refraction of light or motion-blur scene on moving objects – or the rendering might not be realistic at all, and could be designed to appear as a painting or abstract image.

Rasterization and Raytracing are the methods of rendering which makes it more important. Raterization is for real-time graphics such as computer games and raytracing is a higher degree of quality than rasterization. This technology attempts to recreate the physical process.

Unbiased and Biased Rendering:

The common terms you get hit by when you are using rendering software are unbiased and biased rendering.

Unbiased 3D rendering programming endeavor to compute physically exact images. That implies they follow back the way of a light beam in a numerically correct way, without making any easy routes. This technique can bring about longer render times. Hence, fair rendering is seldom utilized for energized films. Rather, it is found in graphic designing and architectural visualization, since render time doesn’t have that much effect on the venture’s calendar.

Biased 3D rendering programming, thusly, is produced for productivity. While calculating the ways of light beams, they deliberately cheat to chop down the render time. In particular, this implies they insert between outlines or apply the blur. It takes some skill to finetune a biased renderer to deliver a persuading result. Be that as it may, on expansive scale movement or embellishments ventures, it is worth to go the additional mile as far as cash and time are saved.

The basic software that you can use for 3D Rendering are:

V-Ray

Since it has best quality and speed, it is known in the market as one of the best software for rendering, V-Ray is a one-sided raytracer that can outfit both a CPU and a GPU (RT) utilizes brute force and path tracing calculations. You can think that it’s coordinated into a vast cluster of 3D displaying suites. It is accessible enough that beginners or enthusiasts can try it and also has an advanced version for the professionals to make their designs of amazing quality.

Price: $750

Hardware: CPU/GPU

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

Clarisse

A 3D rendering engine and has many credits for itself, like the new Star Wars movie.You can learn Clarisse for free with the Personal Learning Edition. The renders made with the PLE are limited to 2560×1440 resolution and may not be used for commercial purposes.

The rendering capacities of Clarisse are exceptionally cutting-edge. For example, it encourages the coordination of rendered pictures and arrangements from another 3D rendering programming with profound picture yield. To separate it, Clarisse yields outputs depth data for each pixel.

Price:Free / $999-$2,899

Hardware : CPU/GPU

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

Solidworks Visualize

Rendering just doesn’t give stunning visual effects but also tries to bridge the gap of an emotional response from prospective customers and stakeholders of engineering projects.Subsequently, it underpins Solidworks’ own particular configurations, as well as CAD information from Autodesk Alias, Rhino, SketchUp, and numerous others. It is an unbiased 3D rendering software which offers an instant progress preview.

When you need to composite complex effects it can output multiple render passes which comes in handy.The intuitive interface of Solidworks Visualize enables even non-specialists to create photorealistic renders that can be used in marketing campaigns. Also, it provides tools that facilitate the animation and scene-setup of mechanical parts.

Price: $1830

Hardware: CPU/GPU

OS: Windows

RenderMan

In the event that you have seen any Pixar motion picture, at that point you have just seen the energy of its homegrown 3D rendering programming, RenderMan. Pixar broadly spearheaded numerous systems that are these days industry rehearse. For instance, RenderMan was the first to incorporate multi-bounce beam traced global illumination.

One of the later augmentations to this 3D rendering programming is an estimator for forefront quality way followed subsurface diffusing. Its intuitive controls for the diverse layers make it simple to rapidly accomplish a reasonable and engaging look. Additionally, moving volumes can be rendered in unparalleled quality on account of twisting volume obscure.

Hair and hide are a critical benchmark for the nature of any renderer. In RenderMan, they can be taken care of productively with its propelled hair shading calculation. Be that as it may, this immense list of capabilities can be awkward for single craftsmen. It takes a group to tame this mammoth!

Price: $495

Hardware: CPU

OS: Windows. macOS, Linux

This software will help you out in making your 3D Prints more better and visually appealing. There are many other rendering software that we have not mentioned here which are pretty easy to use and give better results.

Thus rendering your designs is important while 3D Printing.

Credits: youtube.com,all3dp, cgmeetup.net,3stools.info,3dcoat.com

7 Magical 3D Printables for every Harry Potter fan!

There’s nothing like using 3D printing to make stuff you really love especially if you’re part of a fandom you cherish. And since 3D printing and Harry Potter are both pretty magical to begin with, it’s only fair that we made a list of some of the best 3D print ideas for Harry Potter fans. Take a look!

Deathly Hallows Rotating Pendant

Want to know the easiest way to spot a Harry Potter fan? You’ll probably see them wearing the Deathly Hallows symbol! And though there are many 3D printable designs online, we love this one by ecken which has a rotating center and you don’t even need to assemble it. Just print it out from Thingiverse here and spin away!

Elder Wand

If you’re upset that you down own an Elder Wand till now then it’s time you 3D print your very own. You can even substitute your regular PLA for wood filament for an even more authentic look and then use a wood stain of your favorite color!

It’s hard to find a better 3d printable design of the famous Elder Wand than the one made by jakereeves and you can find his work on Thingiverse!

Harry Potter Glasses

What happens when your Harry Potter Halloween costume turns up without a pair of glasses? You 3D print them! And that’s exactly what designer Tunell did for his son. Though these glasses are a bit smaller for an adult you can scale them to 1.25X for a perfect fit!

Get your very own Harry Potter Glasses on Thingiverse where you can print out the parts and assemble them easily.

Sorting Hat

 “There’s nothing hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can‘t see, So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be.”

Wondering which house do you belong to? The Sorting Hat will tell you! And thanks to designer cerberus333 you can make one so you never miss out on the Sorting Ceremony!

House Crest

Once you’ve been sorted into your house it’s only fair that you 3d print some house crests to flaunt your glory.  And luckily designer Imminentfate has created individual house crests for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and  Slytherin that you can turn into badges or keychains.

Additionally, you can also print the Hogwarts Crest made by 3dberd to complete your Harry Potter collection!

Golden Snitch (with a stand)

Made by designer Porda this Golden Snitch is perfect for every fan who never truly got to experience what Quidditch feels like!  It makes for the perfect addition to your collectibles as well as a really thoughtful gift for your friends who won’t stop talking about Harry Potter!

Don’t forget this Golden Snitch Stand made by designer Aaron D’mello which you can scale in size to fit your snitch model!

Luna Lovegood’s Spectre Specs

Luna Lovegood will always be remembered for her eccentric nature and quirky accessories, especially her Spectrespecs. And if you too want to spot a wrackspurts then you can 3D print your very own model of Spectrespecs that would make her proud!

Its hard to believe this amazing print design is PurpleOranji‘s first every 3D printing model! You can find these Spectrespecs on Thingiverse along with the print instructions and even a cool video to help you make your own pair.

Credits: thingiverse.com

Make your Gaming Experience better with these DIY 3D Printed PS4 Mods and Accessories.

Play station 4 is the latest love of every gaming freak and we do love our Play Station more. To pamper it up more you can create 3D Printed accessories and mods. Be it an elegant 3D printed stand for your DualShock 4 controller, or an all-in-one cooling stand USB charging dock — if you can think of a way to make console gaming a little neater or better, the chances are someone has been there and designed that.

Enhance your gaming lifestyle with these DIY PS4 accessories, that will make your gaming experience more worthful:

Playstation VR Stand

This accessory helps your Playstation VR to stand stable with an exquisite look and you can’t lose your VR. The configuration is made by Cjwelcome with the thought of sleek design and usefulness in mind. Its tilted headband section and forehead rest are situated at such a point where when strapped on, the VR sits genuinely level and confronting straight. It has four countersunk gaps for sliding the headset.

One more outline by hachi roku is motivated by Cjwelcomes design and composed a customized one.

Download the records from Thingiverse.

PS4 Gamepad Smart Clip (Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini)

FuBama has created this design , with simple rubber bands so that it stays in place.You can add your customizations to fit it to your phone. An easy to print skeletal design, PS4 mods like this will let you take your PlayStation controller on the road as a Bluetooth controller for smartphone games. Download the file from Thingiverse.

PS4 Controller Charger

Not only to keep your PS4 accessory, you can also keep the controllers always charged. It is symmetrical so that you can charge your DualShock controllers and also keep them in place. With space for you to feed the console’s controller charging cables through, this PS4 accessory designed by Thingiverse user Stephan Steindl is simple and effective. Download the STL files from Thingiverse.

PS4 Controller Stand

For a single PS4 controller, a classy stand and no complex geometry make this a charmer in the world of PS4 accessories and is quite an easy print. Designed by Luke Boswell  and get it on Thingiverse.

PS Vita Grip With DualShock 4

Alongside being an astounding portable PlayStation, PSvita can be appended to your DualShock 4 controller.One of the not very many PS4 mods out there to make utilization of a specialty, yet a great component of the PlayStation 4 support, Thingiverse client MakingZone’s PS Vita mount allows you to advantageously utilize the DualShock 4 controller, rather than the Vita’s downsized catch design. The outline is made by MakingZone and purchase the files on Thingiverse.

Wall Mount PS4

Wall Mount your PS4 so you need creator jameswood notes that the heaviness of the comfort ought to be upheld by the main rack territory of each part, instead of the little prongs that protected it set up. This implies no under rack mounting — vertically on dividers as it were. The files can be downloaded from Thingiverse.

Thumbstick Extender

Mainly in fps games, this allows extending length of your thumbstick for precise aim and faster accuracy.Some PS4 mods enable you to improve and change your Dualshock controllers. The assumed advantages of expanding your thumbstick with this 3D printable PS4 mods come in recreations that require a high level of exactness.Designed by

icecryptex and you can get the files on Thingiverse.

Make your PS4 more exciting and fun with these 3D Printed accessories which will help your PS4 to look more better and help to stay it in place rather than misplacing it always.Now your PS4 has its own home where it feels warmer.

Get a bestprinter which can help you print these accessories and mods for PS4.e

credits: all3dp,thingiverse

9 “Pawsome” 3D printed accessories that your pets will love!

You may have made yourself some really cool 3D printed memorabilia but don’t forget about your furry friends! Today let’s take a look at some fun 3D printed accessories that you can make for your pets-

Cat Armor

Made by user PrintThatThing, this is the perfect armor your badass kitty and also makes for great Halloween attire! The armor itself consists of many smaller printed parts that are moveable and don’t restrict your pet from moving around. Along with the armor, you can even print out a matching helmet to complete the look. Available on Thingiverse, find the print files and instructions here as well as a short video to help you with the process:

Wearable Antlers

Another cute wearable is this antler made by creator Chad Ruble which can be worn by your pet dog, cat and even by you. All you need to do is print out the pair of antlers and slide a string through the holes. Want to print your own? Get them here.

There’s also a light up version made by Doodle_Monkey if you’re looking for something a bit more festive. Since the antlers can be printed hollow with clear filament, you can slide in some L.E.D. lights. Find the print here.

Space Helmet

If your cat is gearing up for a space adventure then what it really needs is a cool helmet to make sure it’s all safe! And luckily we have the perfect one thanks to Thingiverse user TurnRock. You can scale the size to fit your own cat with the files available here.

Pet Collar

3d printing your pet’s collar is so much more fun than buying one and we’re really digging this design by Michael Kroner. Since the collar consists of individual pieces than join together you can easily make it for any size! Check out the cool design here. 

Bird Feeder 4.0

A birdhouse like no other, this one quite literally resembles a cozy little nest! The design itself is intricately and beautiful to look at and made by user Printednest on Thingiverse. Make one of your own with the files available here.

Bat Beagle Mask

Bat dog is here to save the day! This design was made by Doodle_Monkey for his pet beagle but you can tweak the size to fit your pet once you have the right measurements! Get the print files on Pinshape here.

Pet Wheelchair

Since its hard to find an affordable and customizable wheelchair for pets, you can now 3D print your very own. Thanks to designer Rickee, you can find an in-depth explanation and step-by-step instructions so that you can make your own model right from scratch and help out your injured pet. What’s even better is that all the pieces can be customized as per the size of your pet for the perfect fit.  Find the Thingiverse files here.

Dog Bowl Water Bottle Carrier

This 3d model lets you carry your water bottle with you as well as turn it into a bowl for your furry friend! How efficient! Apart from that, there are tiny paw prints on the side which keep the bowl from rolling around. Yet another great design from Chad Ruble, this design is available on Thingiverse here.

Pet Feeder

If you aren’t around to feed your pet, this 3d printed pet feeder will do your job for you. All you have to do is set a  fixed time and quantity of pet food! The design itself will take a while to assemble but you can find all the instructions on cults3d here.

Credits: thingiverse.com, pinshape.com, cults3d.com, youtube.com