Yes, I came across some of their projects. Their approach is more using a shredder, which doesn't produce the type of granules my direct extruder needs, but their channel is definitely worth exploring: @Precious_Plastic www.youtube.com/@Precious_Plastic
@@HomoFaciens Precious Plastics' shredder is a good first pass for breaking down the plastic into an intermediate size which can be processed more effectively by the blender. An old repurposed paper shredder could also serve the same purpose, although it might need a more powerful motor. It might even do a better job than a blender if the plastic is processed in multiple passes at high enough speeds. The big issue with shredders is preventing and recovering from jamming.
Yes, it was especially the @Precious_Plastic versions of shredding machines that was from interest for me, but the plastic coming out of a shredder is definitely different from that coming out of a blender. It is that sharp edged granules of different sizes coming out of a blender that make my extruder work. Blenders brake things into pieces, shredders squeeze things into pieces. Sounds like that makes no big difference, but in fact it does. More on that as soon as my DIY blender with integrated sieve works. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and: Stay tuned!
Could you do a reverse of a dust collection cyclone to remove the small particles as they are produced and leave only the larger particles that still need to be broken down? Vacuum extraction through a mesh on the side or top? Interesting project, thanks for sharing!
It was a cheap one that I purchased for nothing but crushing plastic and to be honest: The smell of the brand new container as it came out of the box was so horrible that I never ever would have called it "food grade" ;-)
I wonder what happens if you use the pulse button every 5 seconds or so instead of running it continuously? Would the chips be broken down further from standstill compared to be tossed around constantly?
Nothing really happens in the acceleration phase, as the acceleration of the blade is way lower than the acceleration of a particle that is hit by an already fast spinning blade. With that, the rotational speed of the blade has an impact: The faster, the more chips are removed, but also the more friction and so the more heat builds up. As with all things in a real world: Find the sweet spot.
Thanks as always for the first principle explanations.
You're welcome. Knowing the principles is priceless and the only way to improve technology.
Precious Plastics has some open source project related to this.
Yes, I came across some of their projects. Their approach is more using a shredder, which doesn't produce the type of granules my direct extruder needs, but their channel is definitely worth exploring: @Precious_Plastic
www.youtube.com/@Precious_Plastic
@@HomoFaciens Precious Plastics' shredder is a good first pass for breaking down the plastic into an intermediate size which can be processed more effectively by the blender. An old repurposed paper shredder could also serve the same purpose, although it might need a more powerful motor. It might even do a better job than a blender if the plastic is processed in multiple passes at high enough speeds. The big issue with shredders is preventing and recovering from jamming.
Yes, it was especially the @Precious_Plastic versions of shredding machines that was from interest for me, but the plastic coming out of a shredder is definitely different from that coming out of a blender. It is that sharp edged granules of different sizes coming out of a blender that make my extruder work. Blenders brake things into pieces, shredders squeeze things into pieces. Sounds like that makes no big difference, but in fact it does. More on that as soon as my DIY blender with integrated sieve works. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and: Stay tuned!
Could you do a reverse of a dust collection cyclone to remove the small particles as they are produced and leave only the larger particles that still need to be broken down? Vacuum extraction through a mesh on the side or top? Interesting project, thanks for sharing!
The video on my version of a pellets-to-plastic-dust-grinder is currently recorded. It has indeed a mesh (sort of) on the wall. Stay tuned!
I wonder if you will still use that fancy blender to make smoothies ;-)
It was a cheap one that I purchased for nothing but crushing plastic and to be honest: The smell of the brand new container as it came out of the box was so horrible that I never ever would have called it "food grade" ;-)
Excellent!
I wonder what happens if you use the pulse button every 5 seconds or so instead of running it continuously? Would the chips be broken down further from standstill compared to be tossed around constantly?
Nothing really happens in the acceleration phase, as the acceleration of the blade is way lower than the acceleration of a particle that is hit by an already fast spinning blade.
With that, the rotational speed of the blade has an impact: The faster, the more chips are removed, but also the more friction and so the more heat builds up. As with all things in a real world: Find the sweet spot.