Description
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to pet drying apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved pet dryer apparatus wherein the same directs drying air through an enclosure to effect drying of an animal pet contained within the enclosure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a bathing and grooming event associated with an animal, it is frequently desireable to effect drying of an associated animal to minimize illness associated with a wet animal and to further permit directing of the animal to a further grooming station subsequent to the bathing event. The prior art structures have been provided to secure an animal within an enclosure but have heretofore been of enclosures to completely surround an animal to create unnecessary anxiety within the animal as well as providing relatively unidirectional flow of air about the animal as opposed to the instant invention. Examples of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,903 to BLOOM et al wherein a pet dryer in securing an animal therewithin includes an apertured floor to direct air into an animal contained within the enclosure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,410 to NICHOLS sets forth a pet drying apparatus wherein an apertured basin directs air in an enclosure that completely surrounds an animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,323 to MAINES sets forth a pet dryer wherein a cabinet including one or more chambers and a removable partitions includes an apertured floor to direct heated drying air into an animal contained within one of the chambers of the cabinet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,756 to RAMSEY provides a container divided in plurality of cells for the storage and shipment of animals and the like therewithin. Filtered air flow is directed throughout the cells for support of the animals therewithin.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,102 to YONEZAWA sets forth a transparent box-like member for mounting a dog therewithin with a heater and fan mounted overlying the cabinet to effect drying of an animal while providing slotted openings to permit an individual to direct their arms within the enclosure for grooming of an animal therewithin.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved pet drying apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which permits securement of an animals body within a housing and directing air flow about the animal utilizing a vacuum source to provide a chamber within the housing to enhance drying of the animal contained within the aforenoted housing and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of pet dryer apparatus present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved pet dryer apparatus wherein the same utilizes a transparent enclosure to secure an animals body therewithin and effect a vacuum chamber within the housing to enhance drying of an animal contained therewithin. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved pet dryer apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art pet dryer apparatus and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the pet dryer apparatus of the invention includes apparatus including a platform including fixed forward legs and adjustable rear legs to permit tilting of the platform and effecting drainage rearwardly thereof through associated drainage openings and a sponge collector. A framework is fixedly mounted extending outwardly of the platform to define a support for a transparent cover sheet surroundingly overlying and encompassing the framework and securable to the platform utilizing complementary hook and loop fasteners formed to the platform and to the cover sheet. A vacuum blower directs drying air through the covering sheet and associated slots formed within the covering sheet through the vacuum source to effect drying of a pet contained within the cover sheet mounted on the platform. A front panel of the cover sheet includes an upper opening for positioning of a pet's head therethrough and a lower opening underlying the upper opening for securement of a leash and the like directed therethrough. A hook and loop fastener slit is effected between the upper and lower openings and further slit between the lower opening and a lower terminal edge of the cover sheet to permit access to or removal of the animal from within the cover sheet. A side panel of the cover sheet provides a slidable and foldable door mounted thereover. A harness is mounted between a medial and forward portion of the framework for sliding support of a tether strap to secure the pet in a fixed relationship relative to the framework and wherein the apparatus further includes a positioning seat for securement of the pet in aligned relationship within the apparatus.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pet dryer apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art pet dryer apparatus and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pet dryer apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pet dryer apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pet dryer apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such pet dryer apparatus economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pet drying apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pet drying apparatus which may be compactly stored when not being utilized.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pet drying apparatus where air flow is directed about an animal in an enveloping relationship relative to an animal utilizing a housing effecting a vacuum chamber within the housing for use in a drying procedure.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a prior art pet dryer apparatus.
FIG. 2 is an orthographic cross-sectional view of a further prior art pet drying apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of the instant invention.
FIG. 4 is a orthographic view taken in elevation of a positioning seat utilized by the instant invention.
FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration somewhat enlarged of the tether strap utilized by the instant invention.
FIG. 6 is an isometric illustration of the adjustable leg structure of the instant invention.
FIG. 7 is an orthographic cross-sectional view of the door structure utilized by the instant invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 7 thereof, a new and improved pet dryer apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art pet drying apparatus 1 wherein a plurality of inlet tubes 2 direct the air flow through an apertured floor 3. Similarly, FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art pet feeder apparatus 4 wherein a blower 7 mounted within a housing 5 directs air between the housing 5 and an interior housing 6 through an underlying conduit 8 associated with an apertured floor 9.
More specifically, the pet dryer apparatus 10 of the instant invention essentially comprises, a rigid planar platform 11 including a plurality of downwardly depending front legs 12 arranged orthogonally to a front corner portions of the platform 11 and downwardly depending rear legs 13 adjustably mounted to rear corner portions of the platform 11. The rear legs 13 are adjustable within sockets 14 wherein the sockets 14 are integrally mounted to the platform 11 and receive a respective leg 13 therewithin. Each of the sockets 14 includes a series of aligned socket apertures 14a cooperative with a rear leg aperture 13a whereupon alignment of the socket apertures 14a and a rear leg aperture 13a, a lock pin 15 is directed therethrough to position the rear legs in adjustable manner in relationship to a rear edge portion of the platform 11. In this manner, the platform 11 is tilted downwardly in this rearward direction to provide drainage of water and moisture directed from animal a rear portion of the platform 11 wherein drainage openings 33 are provided adjacent a rear edge of the platform 11 and include a removable elongate sponge member 32 to absorb excess moisture prior to its being directed through the drainage openings 33 to minimize unnecessary water being directed upon a surrounding work surface relative to the apparatus 10. The platform 11 includes a continuous perimeter edge wherein a platform hook and loop fastener surface 16 is formed coextensively about the edge of the platform 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 7 for example). A tubular housing framework 17 extends above the platform 11 and is integrally mounted thereto defining a rectangular parallelepiped. The tubular housing framework 17 includes vertical tubes mounted orthogonally at each corner of the platform extending upwardly therefrom and integrally joined to horizontal tubes integrally joining the vertical tubes as well as cross braces 39 extending diagonally across intersections of the horizontal and vertical tubes to effect rigidity to the tubular framework. A transparent cover sheet 18 surroundingly overlies the framework 17 and includes a lower terminal edge 19 that includes a sheet hook and loop fastener surface cooperative with the platform hook and loop fastener surface 16 to selectively secure the cover sheet 18 to the platform 11.
The transparent cover sheet 18 includes right and left side panels 20 as well as a front panel 21 and a rear panel 22 cooperating with a roof panel 23 overlying the cross braces 39 as illustrated. The transparent cover sheet 18 when thusly secured provides an enclosure to receive a pet animal therewithin. An access door 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 7) is defined by inter-folding accordion like slats as illustrated overlying an entrance 25 formed through the right side panel 20. The slats of the access door 24 are slidably received within a T-shaped track 26 overlyng the entrance 25 and cooperative with T-shaped guides 27 and integrally mounted to upper terminal ends of the slots 24 to permit selective closure of the entrance 25 to sealingly enclose the aforenoted enclosure whereupon a vacuum pump 31 operative through a vacuum conduit 30 effects a vacuum within the enclosure directed through a vacuum opening port 29 mounted within the platform 11 underlying positioning of an animal within the enclosure. Side wall slots 28 to receive entering air are formed in pairs through each of the right and left side panels 20 to effect a replenishment of air within the enclosure to effect drying of an animal therewithin.
The front panel 21 includes an upper opening 34 defined by a first diameter to receive a pet's head in securement therethrough overlying and aligned with a lower opening 35 of a second diameter wherein the upper and lower openings are aligned medially of the front panel 21 and wherein the second diameter is less than that of the first diameter. The lower opening 35 is arranged to receive animals leash and the like therethrough for securement of animal if required. A medial slit 36 is positioned between the upper and lower openings 34 and 35 and utilizes medial slit hook and loop fasteners to permit accommodation of animal's head therethrough and provide a snug securement of the animal's head through the upper opening during use of the apparatus. A lower slit 37 between the lower opening 35 and the lower terminal edge of the sheet 19 accordingly permits opening of the front panel 21 from the lower terminal edge 19 of the front panel up through the upper opening to permit removal of an animal therethrough if required.
The rectangular roof framework 38 as aforenoted defined by the horizontal tubular members and the cross braces 39 include a forward junction 40 arranged at an acute angle in a confronting relationship to a front tube overlying the front panel. A support bar 41 is integrally mounted to the front tubular member overlying the front panel and slidably receives a sleeve 42 therealong. The sleeve 42 is received within a sleeve slit 42a directed through the roof panel 23 overlying the support bar 41 wherein a lock member 43 utilizing a threaded boss and threaded plug to lock the sleeve 42 at a predetermined orientation along the support bar 41 includes a strap 44 mounted thereto. The strap 44 includes a first end including a first hook and loop fastener portion 44a mounted to the sleeve 42 with a second free end 44b including a second hook and loop fastener portion securable to the first hook and loop fastener portion for securement of an animal within the strap 44 to maintain the animal in a desired position relative to the front panel 21 and the enclosure.
A further animal positioning member is utilized defined as a positioning seat 45 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The positioning seat 45 is integrally and orthogonally mounted to a post 46 that includes a plurality of equally spaced pairs of post aperture 49 directed therethrough. The post apertures are defined by a spacing to capture the platform 11 therebetween and receive an upper post pin 50 above the platform 11 and a lower post in 51 below the platform 11 through an associated post aperture 49 to accordingly securely position and capture the positioning seat 45 relative to the platform 11. A first seat strap 47 and a second seat strap 48 are mounted to the positioning seat 45 and each include a respective first strap hook and loop patch 47a and a second strap hook and loop patch 48a for further securing an animal relative to the positioning seat 45 to thereby align the animal relative to the front panel 21 by use of the first and second seat straps 47 and 48 as well as the tether strap 44 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The positioning post 46 is directed through the platform 11 through a plurality of spaced floor covering resilient sheet strips 52 to prevent passage of fluid therethrough wherein the sheet strips 52 define a sheet slot 53 to receive the post 46 therethrough and thereby provide a fluid seal about the post 46 in its relationship to the platform 11.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same should be apparent from the above disclosure and accordingly no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention shall be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
by 3devo on Mar 29, 11:36:00 AM
Polyethylene terephthalate, known to most as PET, is the most used thermoplastic polymer. You&#;ve probably seen the recycle triangle with the number 1 on many beverages and food containers, but that&#;s only the beginning of PET. If its scientific name or abbreviation doesn&#;t ring a bell, polyester might. The material is known to make most clothing and other furnishings articles. However, it starts as a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic.
What is PET Plastic?
PET has been around since the s when chemists experimented with polymers to create textiles. The plastic&#;s popularity grew through the s when researchers found a way to stretch PET into a thin sheet, this form being used mainly for video, photo, and packaging films. When the technology for blow-stretch molding was developed in the early s, PET found a new form and its most notable use, PET bottles. Patented in , PET bottles, compared to its container-predecessors (glass bottles, steel, and aluminum cans), were lightweight, safe, cheap, and recyclable.
Properties of PET
By looking at a polyethylene terephthalate property table, we can understand and gain insight into how it would be working with PET plastic. While there are many variables at play, below, you will find a general material overview. Properties may vary slightly as there are different grades available.
Physical Properties
Density
1,3 &#; 1.4 g/cm3
Water Absorprtion &#; equilibrium (%)
less than 0.7
Thermal Properties
Upper working temperature
115 &#; 170&#;C
Mechanical Properties
Tensile Modulus (GPa)
2 &#; 4
Processing Properties
Melting Point
260&#;C
Misconceptions of PET
Despite us interacting with PET daily, any mention of &#;PET&#; or &#;plastic&#; comes with a sense of taboo. We&#;ve associated the destruction of our climate with plastic waste. If you&#;re not picturing a polar bear surrounded by melting ice when &#;climate change&#; is mentioned, you&#;re probably imagining a sea of plastic floating in our oceans.
While PET is the most used plastic, it is also the most recycled. In , 1.923 million tonnes of PET bottles were collected in Europe for recycling, seeing an increase of 2.9% from the previous year. In addition to that, the PET recycling rate was around 58.2%. Besides thinking of PET as one of the culprits behind plastic pollution, a thought that crosses many people&#;s minds is PET&#;s harm to our health.
It is essential to acknowledge that many governments worldwide have agencies regulating and providing scientific advice on any risks associated with foods and beverages. PET has been approved by the Food and Drug Association, Health Canada, the European Food Safety Authority, and countless more as safe for contact with food and beverages. While antimony oxide is used during the making of PET, it is only over more extended periods of exposure to heat that trace amounts of antimony may migrate into the beverages bottled in PET. These antimony levels are far below the safety thresholds, and the small amounts that might be found in PET contained foods and beverages are not anything to be concerned about as it does not pose any health risk.
If you still feel hesitant, check out your local food and beverage agency&#;s requirements on the use of PET containers for edible products.
The Pros and Cons of PET Plastic
Despite the many uses of PET and its popularity, there are certain limitations to it. Below we&#;ve compared the most common pros and cons when working with PET plastic.
Pros
Cons
The polymers are easily available and inexpensive
Lower heat resistance
High strength to weight ratio
PET resins are susceptible to oxidation
Highly transparent and shatterproof
Partially derived from crude oils
Easily Recycled
Not biodegradable
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PET vs PETG
Although PET is available as a homopolymer (a polymer where every monomer unit of the chain is the same), you can alter it to produce copolymers (a polymer derived from more than one species of monomer) desirable for specific applications. A known copolymer of PET is PETG, which is polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified. One of the biggest misconceptions, especially in the 3D-printing filament industry, is that PET and PETG are the same. Unfortunately, this is not the case. PETG isn&#;t made from simply adding glycol to PET. PETG is formed during the initial polymerization process, where monomers/other components are combined to build the polymer up. Below you can see a table of the differences between the two.
PET
PETG
Strength &#; high impact capability and shatter resistance
Strength &#; copolymerization keeps it from crystalizing and reduces cracking
Better chemical resistance, impact resistance, and clarity
Good chemical and impact resistance and clarity
Typical applications &#; Bottles
Typical applications &#; Cosmetic packaging
How Is PET Used?
Besides food and beverage containers, PET is a known and familiar material used to create clothing, furnishing, textiles, and more in its polyester form. Famous for its durability and resistance to many chemicals, it retains its shape well and is easy to look after. Besides its use for consumables and wearables, polyethylene terephthalate has been used by the music and marine vessel industries and as fabrics for conveyor belts and fabric coating.
The most common application done with PET is injection molding. Injection molding is the manufacturing process for producing various parts by injecting molten material into a mold and rapidly cooling it off. Once molten PET gets injected into pre-form molds, they can then be blow-molded to create the desired shape after cooling off. We typically see this when making PET bottles, but this same technique is beneficial when producing shampoo bottles, trays, and watering cans.
A lot can be done with PET, given its universality, but what we&#;ve mentioned is just the beginning.
Industrial Use of PET
Thanks to its excellent electrical insulating properties, PET plastic is widely used in the electrical and electronics industry. PET has replaced die cast metals and thermosets within electrical encapsulation, solar junction boxes, and smart meters, to name a few. Considering its thermal range and its lightweight, PET plastic is mechanically strong; this reason, next to its design freedom and other advantages, has made it a popular material for the automotive industry. Its high abrasion and UV resistance, high stiffness, and low cost make PET very attractive to use throughout an automobile.
Seat belts and seat covers require high abrasion and UV resistance to secure safety and comfort while in a vehicle. With its high abrasion resistance and durability, polyester is used in automobile carpets; alongside being durable against soil, it provides noise insulation. These factors are also why polyester is a commonly used material within the fashion, textile, and home furnishing industries. Polyester fiber is great as insulation material in pillows, comforters, and upholstery padding. The high stain and tear resistance make it an attractive material for clothing, with additional offerings in fewer wrinkles and shrinkage (compared to cotton).
At Fontys University of Applied Sciences, one of the largest and most prominent educational institutes in the Netherlands, the Natural Science wing is one of the only to offer bachelor courses in polymer studies. 3D printing is part of their research facility; it assists students in researching and enhancing existing polymers. Through filament extrusion, students and researchers have been able to study the properties and recyclability of PET.
While Fontys&#; students and researchers extruded PET filament, for those who want to go straight into 3D Printing, PET filament is available and accessible. Ultra Fuse FFF provides PET filament, which is as easy to use as PLA but more durable. With different colors to choose from and a sustainable option, you&#;re sure to find just what you need for your 3D printing projects.
In a time where sustainability is needed in all industries, Freudenberg Performance Materials, a leading global supplier of innovative technical textiles, has found a way to benefit from PET recycling. The supplier from Germany has been able to give PET a second life by making nonwoven materials to seal roofs. Using recycled PET in this innovative way proves that PET shows a lot of promise in its use as virgin and recycled material.
Unleash PET's Potential: Eco-Friendly Filament Maker
Ready to embrace sustainability and unlock the true potential of PET plastic? Our state-of-the-art Filament Maker empowers you to repurpose PET, the most used thermoplastic polymer, into custom 3D printing filament. Say goodbye to plastic waste and hello to endless creative possibilities.
Can PET Be Recycled?
Recycling and reusing go beyond DIY projects at home; from being one of the most recycled plastics, PET has been given new lives within various uses and industries, mainly through becoming rPET.
Unlike PETG, where PET is glycol-modified, rPET means &#;recycled PET&#;. Bottles, containers, and other PET items collected and sorted go through shredding and drying, where then rPET is born and can be made into products such as blankets, insulation, car parts, clothing articles, and more!
Although there is a limited global supply of rPET, there is a growing demand. This ever-increasing demand is seen in return bottle schemes; alongside this, the EU stated that by , 90% of all PET products should get collected and reprocessed. Next to that, all newly produced bottles should include 25% rPET. The growing demand for rPET and the change in legislation to have rPET more commonly used are great facts when looking at how much environmentally friendlier rPET is to its predecessor. rPET uses 71% fewer greenhouse emissions, 79% less energy, and has under a quarter of the carbon footprint of the virgin material.
There are, however, two drawbacks that we should mention when comparing the two plastics. rPET can have a slightly different hue to PET due to impurities; however, using a mix of the two can quickly correct this. The other one being that rPET is more expensive than PET as high-quality granulate is in a lower supply.
Aside from the economic and environmental factors, the recycled and virgin material are the same: they are both shatterproof, lightweight, and approved by various food and beverage agencies as being suitable for food, health, and home care products.
3D Printing and Recycled PET
If you&#;re looking for other ways to take control over your plastic waste, 3D printing filament could be an option. Through 3D printing, you have full control to create whatever you&#;d like.
The Extreme E racing series is the first sport conceived with concern for the climate crisis. By using electric racing in remote environments facing the threat of climate change, the series&#; goal is to highlight and encourage all of us to take action to protect our planet&#;s future and wellbeing. That is why, while en route to their racing locations onboard St. Helena, the team will collect ocean PET, process it, and make it into filament, which will, in turn, be used to 3D print the winning teams&#; trophies. Not only does this show how there are endless possibilities when working with rPET, but it is also a great example of closed-loop recycling.
It might sound as easy as home projects when you want to move into the 3D printing possibilities of rPET, but you have to be aware that trial and error will occur; this is something we learned the first time we experimented with creating filament from rPET. It ended with several trial runs that resulted from adjustments made throughout, but it is doable! Since then, we&#;ve learned a lot about what it takes to create 3D printable filament from recycled PET, and have been successfully able to do so.
Be warned, patience is required.
How Can PET Be Applied in 3D Printing?
Earlier, we listed some of PET&#;s properties, but some properties and variables will be more of an interest to you when you want to extrude and create PET filament. Aside from the physical and mechanical properties listed earlier, thermal and processing properties are fundamental here.
An important reminder, however, is that the processing properties may differ depending on your PET manufacturer. That&#;s why we suggest following the guidelines given to you by them and being aware that depending on the hardware you&#;re using to extrude the filament, you may have to adjust the different variables as the settings you use on one extruder might not work on another. Processing properties are more &#;applied&#; and &#;hands-on&#; than other properties, and you&#;ll have to work and change as you go.
Thermal Properties
Upper working temperature
115 &#; 170&#;C
Lower working temperature
-40 &#; -60&#;C
Processing Properties & Conditions
Melting point
260&#;C
Drying Temperature
120&#;C
Extrusion Temperature
270-290&#;C
5 Steps To 3D Printing With PET
Now that we know which properties we should pay attention to, we can get into the steps you&#;ll need to take to repurpose PET into a 3D print successfully.
1. Prepping Your PET
Before getting your PET products to a size that can go through an extruder, you need to morph it into a shape that can go through a shredder. There are three approaches you can take with this Crushing it with your hands, so it&#;s narrow enough to feed through a shredder. Use a vacuum to vacuum out the air and deflate the plastic. Cutting your material with scissors into smaller and more manageable pieces.
2. Shredding
The best solution is to use a shredder to get your PET plastic into more refined pieces (smaller than 4mm). This process is faster than if you were to continue cutting with scissors. To extrude the regrinds, they have to be small enough for your filament extruder to melt it and push it through; if it&#;s too big, not only may it not fit, but it may cause a blockage.
3. Drying
PET is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs moisture from the air. When extruding a material, moisture can affect the quality and texture of the filament. To dry your regrinds, you can either choose to use an industrial dryer or dry it in your oven at home! Once it&#;s dried and as much moisture as possible is drawn from the regrinds, you can start extruding.
4. Extruding
Before extruding, you need to remember that there are different PET grades, and each filament extruder will require various changes depending on this. Experimentation is key here. We suggest testing out different temperatures in steps of 5°C while waiting in between to look at the tolerance. Once you feel confident in the set temperatures, it&#;s time to change the extrusion speed in increments of 0.5RPM and the fan cooling temperature.
Once you&#;ve extruded your filament, if you don&#;t plan on using it to 3D print immediately, then store it in a dry place or vacuum seal it to prevent it from drawing in moisture from the air.
5. 3D Printing
Your rPET filament is now ready for you to print! Experimentation is the name of the game here, from extruding and continuing with the 3D printing. Before going full speed ahead and printing the actual print you want to create, we suggest trying a smaller print. This way, you can see how your rPET filament will react.
Some variables you should keep in mind are the temperature and printing settings. If you have too high of a temperature setting, your filament might melt too quickly, and your 3D print won&#;t be even. Here are general guidelines to which settings you should put your 3D printer to, but, as mentioned earlier, every hardware is different, and you might have to react to what output you&#;re receiving.
Nozzle size: &#;0.15mm
Layer height: &#;0.1mm
Flow rate: ±110%
Print temp: ±200 &#; 240&#;C
Print speed: High
Retraction: Yes ±6mm
Heat bed: ±65 &#; 75&#;C
Fan speed: 0-30%
Experience level: Beginner
Once you&#;ve tested out your printer with your rPET, you can create your final design! While there is a limit on the settings, there is no limit to how creative you can get with your 3D prints!
If you&#;re not into 3D printing, or have access to the equipment necessary to reuse PET in this way, luckily there are countless projects that you can get started on to give it a new life.
How Can I Repurpose PET?
It can be easy to recycle PET at home, give it a new life, and enjoy the time as a creative outlet. PET can be recycled in multiple ways at home with various degrees of difficulty. Here are three projects which will help you recycle with it at home:
PET typically starts as food containers and can easily continue that path; reuse your coffee creamer bottles to store sugar, spice, and everything nice for minimal storage and an easier pour.
Keeping a plant alive can be tricky, but this craft will be just the incentive you needed to continue trying! Plant pots can be expensive in the long run and not as colorful as some of us may like. Turn your empty bottles into hanging planters and customize them by painting the outside with your favorite color!
- Fight plastic waste with plastic waste! Turn your larger PET bottles into a plastic bag dispenser. Make it easier for yourself to collect something that is typically seen as a one-time use option, and use the plastic bags for varied uses! Start by gathering the bags you get from your grocery runs and use them as trash can linings, storage bags, and the bags you continue to use for your grocery runs! If the bags show signs of wear and tear, you can decide to create gift bows for the final piece of a gift or make custom coin pouches. Like PET bottles, plastic bags have huge repurpose potential!
Hopefully, if you didn&#;t know before, you know now why PET is still one of the most used plastics. Its universality is shown as different products within one industry and through its versatility in various sectors. Not only can it be recycled and reused into a product with the same level of quality as the virgin product, but it is the most recycled plastic out there! These qualities enable it to contribute to a circular economy in ways such as return schemes.
Its varying application forms and reusability make it an attractive material to extrude filament and 3D print with, all the while gaining valuable knowledge on its properties.
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