Project number
25009
Organization
Engineering Design Center
Offering
ENGR498-F2024-S2025
Plastic waste is a major problem in academic makerspaces such as the Engineering Design Center at U of A. Novice users often employ incorrect material settings. This leads to failed prints, wasted material, excess material for recycling and additional time spent on cleanup and reprinting. This project aims to reduce plastic waste by developing a filament verification system for 3D printers.
The team designed a spectroscopy system to identify common filament materials used in 3D printing like PLA, ASA and PETG. Once it determines what material is loaded into the printer, the system checks for mismatches between the filament and the user’s selected print settings. These settings include material, nozzle temperature, bed temperature and print speed.
If the system detects a mismatch, it will automatically adjust the printer settings and notify the user. Ensuring the loaded material matches the print settings will improve print success rates and reduce waste. Additionally, since the primary focus of this project is makerspaces, the team will share the project as an open-source resource for the maker community as a cost-effective, efficient and sustainable solution for makers to replicate.
The team designed a spectroscopy system to identify common filament materials used in 3D printing like PLA, ASA and PETG. Once it determines what material is loaded into the printer, the system checks for mismatches between the filament and the user’s selected print settings. These settings include material, nozzle temperature, bed temperature and print speed.
If the system detects a mismatch, it will automatically adjust the printer settings and notify the user. Ensuring the loaded material matches the print settings will improve print success rates and reduce waste. Additionally, since the primary focus of this project is makerspaces, the team will share the project as an open-source resource for the maker community as a cost-effective, efficient and sustainable solution for makers to replicate.