Filament Recycling: Difference between revisions
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!style="font-size:135%;text-align:center;" | Shini SG-16N Granulator | !style="font-size:135%;text-align:center;" | Shini SG-16N Granulator [https://sites.gatech.edu/mse-mill/sop/granulator/ [SOP<nowiki>]</nowiki>] | ||
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In a plastic granulator, robust cutting knives are mounted in a specific pattern on a open rotor that is spun at high speeds. Stationary knives are mounted within a cutting chamber at precise locations where they are allowed to come in contact with the rotary knives. As the knives come into contact, plastic scrap within the cutting chamber are cut in a scissor-like motion. Granules pass through a screen which limits their maximum size. Granules that fall through the screen are collected for further processing. Granulators reduce materials to much smaller sizes compared to shredders and even grinders, with sizes of 0.2 mm or lower being possible. <ref Name="Shini"> Calovini, L. (2021, April 20). Shredding vs. Granulating: What's the Difference? Shini USA. https://www.shiniusa.com/2019/02/27/shredding-vs-granulating/. </ref> These small sizes are made possible due to the open-rotor design of granulators that helps to facilitate the processing of lighter materials, compared to the closed-rotor operation of shredders and grinders The open-rotor functionality of granulators also means more air space is present facilitating product agitation and cooling. Granulators tend to require a more specialized feeding process, either by hand, conveyer, or robot, to avoid jamming, in comparison to shredders which do not necessitate as much oversight and can simply be fed material that has been dumped in the feed hopper. | In a plastic granulator, robust cutting knives are mounted in a specific pattern on a open rotor that is spun at high speeds. Stationary knives are mounted within a cutting chamber at precise locations where they are allowed to come in contact with the rotary knives. As the knives come into contact, plastic scrap within the cutting chamber are cut in a scissor-like motion. Granules pass through a screen which limits their maximum size. Granules that fall through the screen are collected for further processing. Granulators reduce materials to much smaller sizes compared to shredders and even grinders, with sizes of 0.2 mm or lower being possible. <ref Name="Shini"> Calovini, L. (2021, April 20). Shredding vs. Granulating: What's the Difference? Shini USA. https://www.shiniusa.com/2019/02/27/shredding-vs-granulating/. </ref> These small sizes are made possible due to the open-rotor design of granulators that helps to facilitate the processing of lighter materials, compared to the closed-rotor operation of shredders and grinders The open-rotor functionality of granulators also means more air space is present facilitating product agitation and cooling. Granulators tend to require a more specialized feeding process, either by hand, conveyer, or robot, to avoid jamming, in comparison to shredders which do not necessitate as much oversight and can simply be fed material that has been dumped in the feed hopper. | ||
== Extruders == | == Extruders [https://sites.gatech.edu/mse-mill/sop/filament-extruder/ [SOP<nowiki>]</nowiki>]== | ||
[[File:Extruder.PNG|thumb|A diagram of a typical filament extruder <ref Name="3devo"> 3devo. (2021, May 17). Why Should You Learn About Filament Extrusion? 3devo. https://3devo.com/blog/benefits-of-learning-extrusion/. </ref> |left|500px]] | [[File:Extruder.PNG|thumb|A diagram of a typical filament extruder <ref Name="3devo"> 3devo. (2021, May 17). Why Should You Learn About Filament Extrusion? 3devo. https://3devo.com/blog/benefits-of-learning-extrusion/. </ref> |left|500px]] | ||
Raw thermoplastic compound material in the form of granules is gravity fed from a top mounted hopper into the barrel of the extruder. <ref Name="Noztek"> Admin. (2013, October 7). How does a filament extruder work? - Noztek Extrusion Systems. Noztek Extrusion Systems. https://www.noztek.com/filament-extruder-work/. </ref> Additives such as colorants and UV inhibitors are often used and can be mixed into the resin prior to arriving at the hopper. The material enters through the feed throat (an opening near the rear of the barrel) and comes into contact with the screw. The rotating screw forces the plastic beads forward into the barrel which is heated to the desired melt temperature of the molten plastic. It is then extruded as filament through a die and wound onto a spool for later use in a 3D printer.. | Raw thermoplastic compound material in the form of granules is gravity fed from a top mounted hopper into the barrel of the extruder. <ref Name="Noztek"> Admin. (2013, October 7). How does a filament extruder work? - Noztek Extrusion Systems. Noztek Extrusion Systems. https://www.noztek.com/filament-extruder-work/. </ref> Additives such as colorants and UV inhibitors are often used and can be mixed into the resin prior to arriving at the hopper. The material enters through the feed throat (an opening near the rear of the barrel) and comes into contact with the screw. The rotating screw forces the plastic beads forward into the barrel which is heated to the desired melt temperature of the molten plastic. It is then extruded as filament through a die and wound onto a spool for later use in a 3D printer.. | ||
Revision as of 23:12, 5 October 2021
| Shini SG-16N Granulator [SOP] |
|---|
 |
| Rotor & Knife Type: Solid/Staggered Cut |
| Screen size: 5mm |
| Cutting Chamber: 6.3"x8.3" |
| Bed Knives: 2 |
| Rotating Blades: 9 |
| Thru-put: 76 lbs/hr |
Plastic Granulators and Filament Extruders allow polymers to be recycled for future use in FDM 3D printers.
Granulators
In a plastic granulator, robust cutting knives are mounted in a specific pattern on a open rotor that is spun at high speeds. Stationary knives are mounted within a cutting chamber at precise locations where they are allowed to come in contact with the rotary knives. As the knives come into contact, plastic scrap within the cutting chamber are cut in a scissor-like motion. Granules pass through a screen which limits their maximum size. Granules that fall through the screen are collected for further processing. Granulators reduce materials to much smaller sizes compared to shredders and even grinders, with sizes of 0.2 mm or lower being possible. [2] These small sizes are made possible due to the open-rotor design of granulators that helps to facilitate the processing of lighter materials, compared to the closed-rotor operation of shredders and grinders The open-rotor functionality of granulators also means more air space is present facilitating product agitation and cooling. Granulators tend to require a more specialized feeding process, either by hand, conveyer, or robot, to avoid jamming, in comparison to shredders which do not necessitate as much oversight and can simply be fed material that has been dumped in the feed hopper.
Extruders [SOP]
Raw thermoplastic compound material in the form of granules is gravity fed from a top mounted hopper into the barrel of the extruder. [4] Additives such as colorants and UV inhibitors are often used and can be mixed into the resin prior to arriving at the hopper. The material enters through the feed throat (an opening near the rear of the barrel) and comes into contact with the screw. The rotating screw forces the plastic beads forward into the barrel which is heated to the desired melt temperature of the molten plastic. It is then extruded as filament through a die and wound onto a spool for later use in a 3D printer..
References
- ↑ Zealand, W. S. N. (n.d.). Plastics granulator. WorkSafe. https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/machinery/working-safely-with-plastic-production-machinery/plastics-granulator/.
- ↑ Calovini, L. (2021, April 20). Shredding vs. Granulating: What's the Difference? Shini USA. https://www.shiniusa.com/2019/02/27/shredding-vs-granulating/.
- ↑ 3devo. (2021, May 17). Why Should You Learn About Filament Extrusion? 3devo. https://3devo.com/blog/benefits-of-learning-extrusion/.
- ↑ Admin. (2013, October 7). How does a filament extruder work? - Noztek Extrusion Systems. Noztek Extrusion Systems. https://www.noztek.com/filament-extruder-work/.