Melted PLA Scrap-ART

youmagine

Works well with PLA and can add depth by combining other materials at various temperatures. I find this process enjoyable every 6 months, as reviewing scrap and half-melted prints helps me remember what I was printing. To get started, you'll need the following - an oven, a baking tray, aluminum foil (or reuse an old aluminum foil tray from pies), scraps of PLA, and any failed prints you'd like to repurpose, beer or wine for artistic inspiration. Lay aluminum foil on the tray and place your largest scrap parts onto it, leaving minimal space between them as they will produce less plastic than expected. Optionally, use some filament to create a round or shaped outer ring if you want a symmetrical shape. Place it in the oven, heat to 210 Degrees C for about 15 minutes. Then scatter on smaller parts and heat at any temperature you like - 160 Degrees C will soften them while retaining their original shape. Adding ABS parts can be interesting as they shrink, distort, and become soft, creating a more intricate sculpture. Keep an eye on the cooking process and remove it when desired, letting it cool for a few minutes before trimming the foil and PLA to size (wear oven gloves if handling hot materials). You can form it around shapes or cut out designs like butterfly shapes. Allow about 5 minutes for cutting time or return it to the oven to soften again. I hope some of you give this a try; it's fun and might just lead to creating something truly exceptional.