Recycled 3D Printer Waste Accessories

thingiverse

What You Need to Get Started: PLA plastic waste - failed prints or filament scraps. These should be thin, like rafts, as thicker pieces won't melt with an iron. Iron - use this for plastic crafting only. Don't use it on clothes after crafting, as you might get plastic on your clothes. Old ironing board surface Baking paper Soldering iron for making holes if desired Jewelry attachments (jump rings, earring hooks) Appropriate Health and Safety equipment and precautions - see our post on this here. We recommend a mask, gloves, and a ventilated space. 1) In a well-ventilated area, put a sheet of baking paper over your ironing surface, turn on the iron to medium heat, and put on your PPE. 2) Choose the pieces you'll be melting and arrange them on the sheet of baking paper. 3) Place another sheet of baking paper on top and run the iron over it carefully. Be careful not to tear the baking paper (this can happen easily if there are sharp plastic pieces). 4) Keep an eye on the plastic, and keep ironing until you see the top layers blending with the bottom. You can lift the top sheet of baking paper to do this. 5) Don't heat for too long as this will create bubbles in the plastic. A thin raft and small pieces on top usually take between 1 to 2 minutes at medium heat (cotton setting on iron). 6) Once you're happy with how it looks, either leave it there to cool before moving or (with gloves on) move the piece into a secure place for cooling to work on another. PLA plastic won't shrink when it cools but will warp slightly. If you want your piece to stay flat, put it between two pieces of wood or something similar (with baking paper either side). Allowing it to cool with pressure will stop it from warping. 7) You might be happy with the piece you've made, or you might want to add a small hole for a jump ring or string. If you want to add a hole, heat up the soldering iron and pierce one where you want it. Originally published on our website https://remixplastic.com/blogs/news/recycling-tutorial-3d-printer-waste-accessories Health and Safety: https://remixplastic.com/blogs/news/health-and-safety