Electronics recycler reshoots outdated 3D films into 3D printer filament
GreenDisk, a 22-year-old electronic media recycler for the software, music and film industries headquartered in Issaquah, WA, celebrated Earth Day this year with the creation of a new company called reShootz. ReShootz will leverage the growing demand for sustainable raw materials to develop and commercialize 3D printer filaments, using a dedicated stream of recycled plastics obtained from discarded CDs and DVDs.
For reShootz, quality is a priority in both the development and manufacturing processes. The recycled plastic and the associated additives are formulated in such a way that the desired material properties and printing properties are guaranteed. In the production of filaments, reShootz focuses on uniform flow, temperature and drying speed to ensure shape and diameter, which are also crucial for an effective print result.
Mickey Friedman, one of ReShootz’s clients, stated, “You have to understand the history of the material and its unique properties to make a quality product. Over the years we’ve learned how to make the best use of this particular set of recycled plastics, and thanks to the Need for a tight audit trail, we know how they were made and where they came from. ”
reShootz will offer a comprehensive line of products that use these plastics and plastic blends to achieve the most sought-after 3D printing features: durability, opacity, strength and flexibility. The primary recycled plastics from the entertainment industry, including polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and ABS, are being converted into a collection of filament products that meet the need for specialty materials for service bureaus and businesses and are fun for general use Hobbyists and the consumer market.
For David Beschen, founder of GreenDisk and one of the clients of reShootz, the decision to start manufacturing filaments was a logical next step. The 3D printing market is growing rapidly and there is room for high-performance, sustainably produced filament.
“The production of high-quality, high-quality filaments from this special set of recycled plastics is a matter of course,” said Beschen. “When someone wants to make a product, they want the opportunity to make a product that is classified as environmentally friendly.”
reShootz has set itself the goal of developing three different product lines, Performance, Production and Play, for its recycled filaments. The reShootz Performance line aims to use the unique properties of these plastics. For example, the first filament offered in this line will be VuÌ ?? z, an optical-grade polycarbonate filament made from CD / DVD plastic that has been specially manufactured to meet the requirements required for laser reading.
The reShootz Production line offers recycled versions of all popular filaments, starting with rePC, along with reABS, rePP and others.
The reShootz Play line consists of novel filaments that focus on fun. The first to hit the market is reShootz Sparkle, a PC-based filament made from whole discs, including the metal that gives the material its shine.
“All of these materials were born from electronic media, but that doesn’t mean they had to die there,” said Beschen. “These plastics are endowed with special values that reShootz can put back into operation. But the manufacturers will tell us exactly how.”
reShootz plans to launch a Kickstarter program this summer to support the release of the reShootz VuÌ ?? optical filament. z, the company’s first premium recycled filament. Samples will be available prior to release.
