Device for recycling plastic bottles

Author: GABRIEL MAJSTOROVIĆ

Mentor: RUZICA KAMENJASEVIC

Company/Institution: Rijeka High School for Electrical Engineering and Computing

Country: Croatia

web: http://web2.ss-elektrotehnicka-ri.skole.hr/

The device processes plastic bottles into consumables for a 3D printer. At the beginning of the production process, the bottle is cut into strips, which are heated to about 220 0C and reshaped into thread. At the end of the process, the thread is wound onto a spool using an electric motor whose speed can be adjusted as needed. The temperature of the heater can also be regulated to achieve the best thread quality. The device can produce about 1m of thread per minute. After the end of production, the thread can be used immediately in a 3D printer, and considering the very good characteristics of PET plastic from which plastic bottles are made, this thread can be used for various purposes where other plastics such as PLA or PETG cannot be used.