Design of a 3D Printing Filament Shredding Device for 3D Printing Waste Recycling
Vakarjuk, Gleb (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051311447
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051311447
Tiivistelmä
The thesis was focused on developing a design of a 3D printing plastic shredder for HAMK Design Factory. The shredder was aimed to address the problem with 3D printing plastic waste management and reuse. The need in design of a plastic shredder arose due to a breakage of already existing shredder, which was bought from a commercial supplier.
To develop a shredder this thesis followed a systematic product development approach. According to that methodology the designing process was divided into 3 main phases. This approach streamlined the designing process ensuring that all the components of the designed product are selected carefully, according to the defined requirements, and ensuring feasibility of the design.
The product development process started with task clarification, when all the required information about the final product specifications was acquired. This phase was followed with conceptual design, which involved dividing the product into subfunctions and searching for working principles to fulfil the defined subfunctions. The outcome of this part was a concept design of a shredder, which was approved by the stakeholders. Final phase of the designing process was the embodiment and detailed design. During this phase, the layout of the components was defined, necessary calculations and simulations conducted, the materials and suppliers selected, and the technical documentation prepared.
As a result, a complete detailed design of mechanical components of the shredder was developed, including all the necessary technical documentation and a detailed 3D model. The selected design features a set of rotary blades paired with the stationary counter blades, which are meant to shear the plastic. Additionally, the shredder is designed with a sorting screen, which would not allow particles larger than 5 mm to pass through, ensuring a uniform size of particles at the outcome. Although a physical prototype was not built within the scope of this thesis, the developed design provides a solid basis for the next stages of the project, such as manufacturing, testing, and potential optimization of the shredder.
To develop a shredder this thesis followed a systematic product development approach. According to that methodology the designing process was divided into 3 main phases. This approach streamlined the designing process ensuring that all the components of the designed product are selected carefully, according to the defined requirements, and ensuring feasibility of the design.
The product development process started with task clarification, when all the required information about the final product specifications was acquired. This phase was followed with conceptual design, which involved dividing the product into subfunctions and searching for working principles to fulfil the defined subfunctions. The outcome of this part was a concept design of a shredder, which was approved by the stakeholders. Final phase of the designing process was the embodiment and detailed design. During this phase, the layout of the components was defined, necessary calculations and simulations conducted, the materials and suppliers selected, and the technical documentation prepared.
As a result, a complete detailed design of mechanical components of the shredder was developed, including all the necessary technical documentation and a detailed 3D model. The selected design features a set of rotary blades paired with the stationary counter blades, which are meant to shear the plastic. Additionally, the shredder is designed with a sorting screen, which would not allow particles larger than 5 mm to pass through, ensuring a uniform size of particles at the outcome. Although a physical prototype was not built within the scope of this thesis, the developed design provides a solid basis for the next stages of the project, such as manufacturing, testing, and potential optimization of the shredder.