RecycleBot v2.3 Controls

thingiverse

RecycleBot is an automated waste plastic extruder that produces 3-D printer filament from waste plastics and natural polymers, designed by Aubrey L. Woern, et al. Improved features include plastic type selection via keypad interface, adjustable extrusion temperature control, LCD process monitoring, and low-cost power options. The heater section requires precise design and fabrication for optimal results; high-temperature ceramic beads insulate the nichrome wire from the iron barrel while allowing efficient heat transfer. Temperature monitoring and process control are managed by an Arduino Mega microcontroller, with user input guiding extrusion temperature and plastic type selections. The RecycleBot circuit is recommended to be fabricated on separate PCBs for better reliability, with a separate PCB for the temperature sensor and measurement circuit, and another for DC motor and heater controller circuits. For further information and detailed assembly instructions, see the original text.