Development of a Semi-Automatic Filament Manufacturing Platform Based on PET

Abstract

Since the Industrial Revolution, the accumulation of solid waste has become one of the main sources of pollution on the planet. To tackle this challenge, we propose the semi-automatic production of filament based on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), a non-biodegradable material, with the aim of reusing it. An automated manufacturing platform was developed, controlled by an embedded system, equipped with two hot ends at the top for extruding the PET material, ensuring the quality of the filament. A stepper motor, connected to gears, is used to pull and wind the extruded PET filament. At the core of the platform is the control system circuit, which includes an Arduino Nano board responsible for managing the temperature of the extruder nozzle and the speed of the stepper motor. An analysis of the temperature stability of the extruder nozzle was carried out, demonstrating the effectiveness of thermal control. In addition, 3D-printed parts were developed to simplify the semi-automatic handling of the system. Extrusion tests were carried out to determine the effectiveness of the prototype and the optimum process temperature. The results demonstrated the production of a usable, quality filament, thus validating the efficiency of the proposed project. This project offers a solution to the accumulation of solid waste, and also contributes to mitigating environmental contamination by promoting the reuse of materials.