In action
Step 1: After extensive research, we finally purchased the Filastruder, the most inexpensive filament extruder out there. Once it came in the mail, we finally assembled it. The mechanical assembly of the Filastruder was not too difficult, but the electrical assembly was tricky. In the end, we finally got it built.
Step 2: The Filastruder requires small pellets of the material of our choice to be inserted into its hopper for it to melt and be extruded. We needed a simple eco-friendly way to melt our plastic bags down without releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. We shredded plastic bags and put them in a pot of boiling water to melt them down.
Step 3: We heated up the Filastruder to above 190℃, then inserted our plastic pellets. Finally, after a slow process that took over five hours, we had our HDPE filament.
In conclusion, even though we weren't able to print anything out of our filament, we hope that in the near future HDPE filament will become the most used filament, and reduce on the trash around the world.