3D Printed with Recycled and Wool PLA

We've mentioned recently that we located a New Zealand company that is not only recycling PLA but also producing a 'wool blend' PLA which is including sheep wool in the printing process.

KiwiFil is the company and after we contacted them they fantastically sent us some samples to test.   The sample PLA supplied is featured left.  This includes the "WoolyFil' PLA which is recycled PLA but also includes wool.

The print is a small sheep 50mm across and 60mm but the PLA with the wool has produced the effect that you can see left.  This was produced on the Bambu H2D by using the sample PLA and setting the machine to 'generic PLA' setting.

We will be updating this post later today with additional information but the first print that we have used with the 'WoolyFil' and its completely blown us away in the terms of the texture and the detail.

This is one of the most exciting things that we have seen in some time - the students are going to be incredibly excited by this and the texture provided and it will open up a new avenue for our students for their design and creations.

The print used for the demonstration print was located from Maker World and is described as a 'Knitted Sheep'

Thanks once again to KiwiFil for reaching out to us we appreciate the connection and the ability to create something new with our students.

The print took approximately two hours to print, was printed in three stages, the fleece part the legs and head and a third print was then completed for the eyes and nose.   All of the PLA used for the print was recycled print.   It was printed with a Bambu H2D.

In the past there has been the occassional difficulty with some novelty PLA - however there was nothing required here with this wooly filament.

The texture has created attention and opened up a huge realm of possibilities for 3D printing.

We will be posting a multitude of prints using this PLA and also the recycled PLA in the future.

We are preparing our students by establishing recycling centres at school for PLA and also looking at prints that we might want to take and then have repurposed if they are no longer working.