California-based industrial designerReiten Chenghas developed a unique device that’s capable of turning discarded plastic water bottles into functional 3D printing filament.
Known as the ‘Polyformer,’ the modular machine is specifically designed so that most of its parts can be 3D printed, putting it in reach for makers, and enabling it to produce most of the materials needed to replicate itself. Moving forwards, Cheng hopes the system will help make home-based production more plausible for a wider number of people, in a way that advances the circular economy.
“我想象的是一个未来，可以在家中或社区中心生产产品，并在生命的尽头中回收为物品，可以再次用于现场生产新产品，”郑告诉戴齐恩. “The technology might not be there yet but I believe it’s not far from possible if we keep developing and implementing it as a community.”
设计创新的投资组合
As a mechanical engineering college graduate, and a descendent of a family of carpenters and tailors, Cheng’s background has led him to be challenging, inquisitive and hands-on. Given these traits, it’s hardly surprising that the designer has sought to creatively combine design and engineering, in a way that has seen him develop various products which overcome users’ daily foibles.
在使用Polyformer之前，Cheng介绍了其他几种可能与3D打印直接相关的发明，但确实展示了他如何融合分析，力学和人为因素以纠正现代消费品的痛点。
Two years ago, the designer revealed that he had developed a微软表面smartwatch, complete with push-release strap, haptic touch and the Surface’s traditional block-style interface. This was followed by a set ofASUS ROG-styled augmented reality (AR) glasses, as well as ‘EURYDICE，’一种设计“适合第95个百分位数的耳机”。该设备还具有开放式布局，据说可以“产生较低的失真”并产生更宽敞的声音。
然而，他的其他一些设计表明，郑已经开始改变策略，以他的身份针对可持续性‘MUJI’ low-maintenance wet waste bin. Designed to be an all-in-one replacement for traditional bins, the collapsible cardboard bag can be thrown straight into a dumpster when full, without hurting the environment.
An accessible, open-source recycler
Continuing with his work on sustainability-focused products, Cheng has now come up with a solution to recycling plastic bottles composed of PET, with around 90% being made from the material. By using a slicing tool built with stacked bearings, the designer says it’s possible to cut such bottles into long ribbons that can then be fed into the Polyformer’s hot end, which thereforms them into 1.75mm filament.
According to Cheng, users can mount one end of the filament onto a motorized spool to automate the process, and thanks to the device’s geared mechanism, they’re able to open and close its outer shell, enabling them to tweak things where needed, while stopping them accidentally touching its hotend during use.
多形式的另一个好处是其独特的L形设计，它为其提供了模块化，使用户可以切碎并改变其内心的内容。该机器的垂直姿势还可以最大程度地减少其所占用的空间，并有可能使其成为理想的办公室或工作空间伴侣，而印刷和一些可访问的零件的混合物应使其可供广泛的受众群体使用。
With this in mind, the designer has published a free,step-by-step guide to building the Polyformerongithub. Since making his plans public,Cheng’s Polyformer Discord已经看到早期采用者建议升级，例如向系统中添加研磨器，以使不同的塑料回收。因此，初始迹象表明，制造商将随着时间的推移而有助于发展机器的设计。
使细丝生产环保
The unveiling of Cheng’s Polyformer comes at a time when the 3D printing sector is increasingly reflecting on the environmental impact of polymer-based production. One way that developers have sought to make plastics more sustainable, is by用再生材料包装细丝, with the likes ofKIMYA揭幕计划于今年早些时候从70-100％的再生材料开始发布未来的计划。
Other manufacturers such asFillamentum，已选择靶向生物降解性，并启动了100％可生物降解的非油材料in October 2021. Developed alongside theSlovak University of Technology，设计了二酰基酸/多羟基丁酸酯混合物（PLA/PHB），以便可以多次回收，而不会失去其性质。
Elsewhere,recreus已经推出了一个Purifier range of filaments. Comprising two materials:Filaflex PurifierandPLA净化器，该产品线使二氧化碳，氮氧化物和挥发性有机化合物的转化为碳酸钙，碳酸镁和碳酸镁，对环境无害。
要了解最新的3D印刷新闻，请不要忘记订阅3D Printing Industry newsletter或跟随我们推特or liking our page onFacebook.
For a deeper dive into additive manufacturing, you can now subscribe to ourYouTube频道，包括讨论，汇报和3D打印进程的镜头。
Are you looking for a job in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit3D Printing Jobsfor a selection of roles in the industry.
特色图片显示Reiten Cheng的多形式。通过Reiten Cheng的图像。
