Close Menu
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    • News
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • AM Infocast
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
  • Events
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact us
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    1. News
    2. Insights
    3. Case Studies
    4. AM Infocast
    5. View All
    Marvin Raupert – an engineer on the project – pictured with a model demonstrating the 3D printing process., Credits: Leibniz University

    Leibniz University Researchers Successfully Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing in Microgravity

    August 30, 2025
    Rocket Lab Signs MoU with Nikon SLM Solutions for Next-Generation Ultra-Large Metal AM Platform

    Rocket Lab Signs MoU with Nikon SLM Solutions for Next-Generation Ultra-Large Metal AM Platform

    August 29, 2025
    Honeywell-Led Consortium Secures £14.1 Million for AI-Driven Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace Sector

    Honeywell-Led Consortium Secures £14.1 Million for AI-Driven Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace Sector

    August 29, 2025
    Credits: WFIRM

    WFIRM to Test 3D Bioprinted Liver Tissue Onboard the ISS

    August 25, 2025
    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    August 29, 2025
    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    August 29, 2025
    Pure copper and copper alloy (CuCrZr, CuCrNb, CuSn10) samples produced using ADDIREEN's green-laser powder bed fusion AM machines (Image courtesy: Addireen Technologies)

    Addireen: Pioneering Copper Printing in Metal Additive Manufacturing

    August 12, 2025
    Digital Twin Integration in Additive Manufacturing Systems: Revolutionizing Design, Production, and Lifecycle Management

    Digital Twin Integration in Additive Manufacturing Systems: Revolutionizing Design, Production, and Lifecycle Management

    July 4, 2025
    Source: Formlabs

    Case Study: Eaton Corporation’s Strategic Transition to In-House 3D Printing for Tooling Applications

    August 29, 2025
    Revolutionizing Atherosclerosis Research with 3D-Bioprinted Brain Vessels

    Revolutionizing Atherosclerosis Research with 3D-Bioprinted Brain Vessels

    August 25, 2025
    Formlabs fuse 1+

    How Imaginarium Helped Kaash Studio Scale with the Right 3D Printing Technology

    April 12, 2025
    The Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W

    Kaash Studio Optimized Service Bureau Operations with Formlabs 3D Printers- Case Study

    January 30, 2025
    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing

    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing with Bruce Bradshaw

    February 15, 2024
    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    February 9, 2024
    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    March 7, 2023
    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    March 7, 2023
    Marvin Raupert – an engineer on the project – pictured with a model demonstrating the 3D printing process., Credits: Leibniz University

    Leibniz University Researchers Successfully Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing in Microgravity

    August 30, 2025
    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    August 29, 2025
    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    August 29, 2025
    Source: Formlabs

    Case Study: Eaton Corporation’s Strategic Transition to In-House 3D Printing for Tooling Applications

    August 29, 2025
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
  • Events
Subscribe
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
Home » News

Transforming plastic waste into 3D printing material

News By AM Chronicle EditorApril 13, 20244 Mins Read
1712837984117
Capstone Chemical Engineering team
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Pinterest Email Copy Link

The rise of 3D printing has reshaped the landscape of manufacturing and design and brought in a new era of customization and rapid prototyping. Although it has revolutionized industries ranging from healthcare to aerospace, the technology comes with its drawbacks. The vast majority of 3D printers use plastic feedstock which naturally generate a significant amount of plastic waste.

A local clean tech company in Halifax is hoping to change that.

Shifting Shap3s is creating the FilamentPro; a device designed to transform plastic waste into high-quality recycled filament for use in 3D printing. That’s where Dalhousie Chemical Engineering students come in; partnering with Shifting Shap3s to refine the design.

The collaboration is part of Dalhousie Engineering’s Capstone Program; an opportunity that provides all senior year engineering students with the chance to partner with industry on real-world challenges.
 

Mastering the art of plastic extrusion

For Chemical Engineering student Ben Strange and his teammates, the project involved becoming an expert in “plastic extrusion processes with a focus on die extrusion.”

“So what we’re trying to do hasn’t really been done before,” says Strange. “There’s quite a lot of design work out there already on many different extruders, but there hasn’t been any really that have focused on using waste product or impure feedback.”

To succeed, his particular portion of the Capstone project involves “mastering the use of complex finite element analysis software to simulate dynamic three-dimensional heat and mass transfer extrusion processes involving polymers,” he explains.

What does that mean? It’s understanding how to turn plastic into practical shapes through the utilization of extrusion machines, and mastering computer software for simulating the flow of heat and materials within these mechanisms. To put it simply, it’s like learning how to cook a complex recipe perfectly every time, but with plastic waste instead of food.

“We used a finite element analysis modeling software that models the fluid flow and heat transfer in three dimensions and allow you to see profiles of what the inside of your extrusion die looks likes,” says Strange. “Pressure, temperature, velocity, gradients, and it also does geometric predictive modeling, so I can see what the filament looks like when it comes out of the extruder.”

In a typical design process, the next step would involve building and testing a physical prototype.

“The most challenging part of my capstone project has certainly been the requirement to design an almost completely virtual prototype,” says Strange. “Traditionally extrusion processes, and in particular die extrusion, is designed using limited theoretical work followed by extensive physical prototyping and testing. Since this option was not feasible, our team needed a creative solution in order to complete our project.”

Learning beyond the classroom

For Strange and his team, the experience was all part of the incredible Capstone Program journey. The program not only helps students bridge the theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom with the practical skills required in the engineering professions, but it also challenges them to think outside of the box.

“I needed to fill in the gaps in my own knowledge when I encountered them,” explains Strange. “Like all novel research, the answers aren’t easily found at the back of a textbook and more often than not, even our faculty advisors didn’t have all the answers.”

He adds that the project also gave him the opportunity to explore other areas of engineering that are not always taught inside the classroom, gain extensive hands-on experience, and improve his ability to design and model complex systems.

“My capstone project has given me invaluable perspective into the business dynamics of start-up companies and all that is involved with designing a project from scratch and preparing to bring it to market,” He says. “I found that when working in a start-up environment you may not always have access to the resources or subject matter expertise that a larger established company would and as such you have to always be ready to adapt and find creative solutions to solve what might at first seem like insurmountable challenges.”

Subscribe to AM Chronicle Newsletter to stay connected:  https://bit.ly/3fBZ1mP 

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3IjhrFq 

Visit for more interesting content on additive manufacturing: https://amchronicle.com

Original Source

3d printing additive manufacturing India plastic waste USA
AM Chronicle Editor

NAMIC GLOBAL AM SUMMIT 2025
LATEST FROM AM
Marvin Raupert – an engineer on the project – pictured with a model demonstrating the 3D printing process., Credits: Leibniz University News

Leibniz University Researchers Successfully Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing in Microgravity

August 30, 20251 Min Read
Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow Insights

Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

August 29, 20257 Mins Read
Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing Insights

Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

August 29, 20253 Mins Read

CONNECT WITH US

  • 126 A, Dhuruwadi, A. V. Nagvekar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025
  • [email protected]
  • +91 022 24306319
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Newsletter

Subscribe to the AM Chronicle mailer to receive latest tech updates and insights from global industry experts.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Quick Links

  • News
  • Insights
  • Case Studies
  • AM Training
  • AM Infocast
  • AM Magazine
  • Events

Media

  • Advertise with us
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Media Kit

Events

  • AM Conclave 2025
    24-25 September 2025 | ADNEC, Abu Dhabi
  • AMTECH 2025
    3-4 December 2025 | KTPO, Whitefield, Bengaluru
CNT Expositions & Services LLP
© 2025 CNT Expositions & Services LLP.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.



0 / 75