Upgrade 3D Printer
Attached is the research and info have done during the FabAcademy Development.
Even if I did change the topic of my final project, I am still planning to work on this project after the FabAcademy ends using my new digital fabrication skills.
I save here all the info, which will be useful in the near future.
The Concept 📐
Upgrade Kit for 3D printers to print with Bioplastics
Why?
I do love designing and researching from a sustainable approach.
Due to the development of my thesis project: Tamaragua, within the Precious Plastic initiative, I have been researching recycled plastics for the past two years.
Inspired by the infinitive possibilities offered by the biomaterials world, I recently moved to the Netherlands - probably one of the countries which are mostly focusing on researching and developing biomaterials nowadays in Europe.
I enrolled in Fab Academy knowing since the beginning that I would like to develop a final project involving materials and machines.
When looking for possibilities to work from home with biomaterials, I found a lack of possibilities to research the product design field. In fact, most of the recipes which I could find on the internet were meant to use for developing fabrics.
Designing a “Bioplastics 3d printer” or a “Biomaterial filament machine”, seemed to be good ideas in the first place. After a few weeks of learning more about digital fabrication, and understanding that I was not the only designer having the same lack of resources to work with bioplastics from home. I decided that it could be much more appropriate to make something that would also permit other designers to replicate easily from their homes, using their own machines.
This is how an “Upgrade for the 3d printer to work with bioplastics” came up to my mind!
What kind of Bioplastics will I try to print?
Since the Fabacademy works within the distributive economy terms, so make local projects using global knowledge, I want to develop materials made from local leftovers.
The Netherlands is known because of its love for cheese, milk, and butter, so I found in this field an opportunity to look for a material to develop.
I decided to experiment with the cheese crust leftovers since they are normally made both of plastics and natural fonts. The plastic component will play as the plastifier needed in the mix to work.
Project Management 🔢
add project management table
Inspiration
Projects:
- The Solar Sinter - Markus Kayser
- Turning waste lobster shells into bioplastic - The Shellworks
- Precious Plastic Machines
Research 🔍
FabAcademy Student’s references
- Jonathan Keep
- Peter Dahl
- Carina Hermann
- José Tomás Dominguez
- Daniele Ingrassa - 3D printer for food
- Jake Read - 3D Ceramic Printer
FabriAcademy Student’s references
- Beatriz Sandini
- Carolina Delgado
- Hilo Spinning Machine
- Petra Garajová, Biofabricatin Materials
- Elsa Gil
Upgrade for 3d printers
- Ceramboot
- FDM Upgrade Kit | Upgrade Ender 3 to Ceramic 3D Printer
- Eazao
- Electric Putter assambly turorial
- Bowden Syringe Extruder
How to make home-made bioplastics:
- Make your own bioplastic at home
- Making bioplastics from organge peel
- Making bioplastics from avocado
- Making bioplastics from Olive pits
- Interior objects made of food and agricultural waste
- Making bioplastics with Coffee
- Making bioplastics with Avocado 2
- Making bioplastics with Banana peels
- How to Make a Correct Clay Mixture for the 3d printer
- Exploración Biomateria 1
- Exploración Biomateria 2
- Clara Davis Book
- Bio-Plastic Cook Book
- Kombucha material textured and dyed
- Kombucha Fabric K01
3d printing Materials Recipe - Materiom
- Eggshell paste for 3d printing
- Reprintable Mussel shell | alginate MS02
- Olive pomace - 3D print material
- Mica bioprint
- Home-made clays
- Mussel shell | alginate MS01
- Mussel shell - sucrose composite
Bio-Materials made from Milk / Cheese:
Design
Sketch
What my design should have?
- As much 3d printed parts as possible, in order to be reproducible everywhere by everyone who already owns a Prusa printer.
What should my design not have?
- expensive materials
- difficult to reproduce
Components
Attached is a table with the components, process and material in use for the development of each component for the upgrade bio kit.
| Component | Process | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Tube | Buy internet | Plastic |
| Bio-Material’s Deposit | Buy internet | Plastic, transparent |
| Structure for the deposit | 3d printed | PLA, orange |
| Littlle Motor to push the material from the Deposit > Tube | Buy at local shop | — |
| Electronics | Milling and Soldering | Cu plate |
| Extruder Header for Bio-Materials | Buy internet / 3d printed | — |
| Adapter connection for the extruder | 3d printed | PLA, orange |
| New bed for the 3d priner | CNC milling | Wood |
This project has 3 main lines of development:
- Mechanicala Design
- Electronics Design
- Bio-Materials Design