When 3D printing, users will always waste filament one way or the other, either due to a failed print or because of the support for the print, and there may also be test/old prints that you don’t need/use anymore, for example, a retraction cube or a benchy.
That means all that material usually ends up in the dustbin. Priyank Pal, founder of Creative3dp, did not like all that waste, so he created the ExtrudeX machine to recycle 3D print waste and filament scraps back into usable filament. On top of that, the machine itself is 3D printable and much more affordable than commercial solutions from companies such as Filabot.
I’d usually provide the specifications here, but as a crowdfunded project, the ExtrudeX’s full technical details are not fully available. We just know that a single DC gear motor drives the main screw inside a metal barrel, while band heaters and a basic PID temperature controller manage the heat. Other components include standard bearings, a power supply, and other off-the-shelf accessories. The frame, covers, and filament puller are all 3D-printed. The non-printable parts are expected to cost around $180 to $250.
How does it work and how to use it? First, you need to collect your materials, break the waste into smaller pieces, and mix it with pellets (40% old/failed prints and 60% pellets recommended) before pouring everything into the top hopper of the ExtrudeX machine.
The machine’s motor will turn a screw, pushing the mix through a heated metal tube (the user sets the temperature suitable for a specific plastic mix), which turns it into a molten filament that comes out of a nozzle. Once the filament comes out of the nozzle, it cools and hardens, and you can gently take it to the puller at the other end of the machine, and from there, the process is automatic. You can also add a digital dial gauge to monitor the filament during the process.
Watch the video below to better understand how this all works.
What’s missing in the video above are some 3D prints using the recycled filament. But no problem, as Priyank shared some 3D prints using filament recycled from the ExtrudeX machine. Here are two examples (low resolution due to the Kickstarter website’s implementation). I suppose your mileage may vary.
There’s also another machine called the PETFusion 2.0 that does the same for empty PET plastic bottles, but I’m not sure how well that works, and the Kickstarter does not go into much detail about that older model.
The ExtrudeX and PETFusion 2.0 filament recycling/making machines are both listed on Kickstarter. However, it’s not your typical crowdfunding project where you pledge funds for mass production. Instead, you’ll be given resources to build your own machine(s):
- STL Files for all 3D-printable parts
- Detailed list of non-3D printable components required with Best Buy Links
- Support via email for any assistance during the build process
- Video guide for assembly to make the setup simple and hassle-free
- Optional Commercial License in the “ExtrudeX + PETFusion 2.0 with CL” tier for people wanting to manufacture and resell the machine to third parties
Rewards start at $49 for the ExtrudeX files only, $69 for the ExtrudeX and PETFusion 2.0 files, and a commercial license only adds $60 to the total. Since there’s no shipping, all resources will be sent to backers right after the company ends in January 2026.
Via Hackster.io
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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