We began collecting PLA waste through support material and melting the pieces together in a toaster oven to create a plastic sheet. The plastic sheet was then thermoformed to test how well it can mold to another object. Through melting the plastic this way, the plastic generates a textile quality and is aesthetically unlike to the clean, desired product of a 3D print.  

 

To test other methods of heating and bending the plastic, we used a heat gun to mold the plastic over a cup. The result gives an illusion that resembles folds in fabric. These forms create new design questions to experiment with. 

 

By shredding PLA into small fragments, the results are very uniform when the fragments are melted together. We experimented with color studies to research how the shredded pieces take on a terrazzo effect. 

 

Through the purchase of a FelFil Evo Filament maker and Spooler, we have created recycled 3D print filament. Currently, many recycled filament spools are white or black. I am very interested in how color can aesthetically affect a 3D print product when the filament is gradient of color.