On the granulation team, our main goal is to supply feedstock to the extrusion team in the form of (2-3mm) pieces of PLA.
The Granulation Team’s responsibilities fall into three categories: sorting, granulation, processing.
Sorting
When I joined the project in Fall 2019, I began sorting discarded 3D prints by color. Originally, no sorting happened, which resulted in a blue-gray filament color.
By hand, I sort the 3D prints into five major groups: black, white, red, green, blue. Each print needs to be inspected for foreign material such as screws or non-PLA supporting material. After removing as much foreign material as possible, the 3D prints are ready to be granulated. Once this is done, I can begin operating the granulator.
Granulation
For granulation, we use the Filabot Reclaimer, which is as very loud granulator. Because of the noise and size of the granulator, we keep it outdoors in a covered hallway.
Safety first, so wear goggles while granulating. For further protection, we also keep gloves for when it gets cold and earplugs for those that are sensitive to noise next to the granulator.
To begin granulation, I turn on the machine and pour 3D prints into the top. Granulated pieces then accumulate in the bottom receptacle. Afterward, I use a shop vacuum to extract the granules and transfer them into an airtight container for storage.
Processing
Most filaments used in 3D printing are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture from the air. Heating this filament in an extruder creates air pockets as the water evaporates, which leads to deformities in 3D prints, or in this case recycled filament. I minimize this by storing the granules in airtight containers and periodically using a modified food dehydrator to desiccate the granules. This keeps the granules relatively moisture free and ready to extrude.
This is just a brief summary of what I do in the Granulation Team. During a typical week, I spend a few hours sorting and granulating. I get a new batch of prints every month or so, which gives me ample time to 3D print and practice extruding filament in my free time.
This blog post was written by Quinn Wong.
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