In the collaborative research project spanning from September 2021 to June 2022, our team successfully secured a grant of INR 80,000 to address the critical issue of plastic waste through the development of an innovative plastic recycling system. The primary objective was to create a sustainable solution for fabricating 3D printing filament, eliminating the dependency on virgin plastic feedstock. The multifaceted system we conceptualized and implemented consisted of a meticulously designed and constructed shredder system, instrumental in breaking down plastic waste into manageable components. Complementing this, we engineered an ingenious screw-barrel assembly featuring distinct feed, transition, and metering sections. This assembly played a pivotal role in ensuring consistent and high-quality filament production, offering a sustainable alternative in the realm of 3D printing materials.

The culmination of our efforts was marked by the successful filing and acquisition of a patent for the unique screw-barrel assembly design, bearing the patent number 357744-004 and falling under Class 15-09. This achievement not only underscored the novelty and ingenuity of our group project but also solidified our contribution to the field of sustainable materials engineering. Our collaborative endeavour demonstrated the transformative potential of interdisciplinary teamwork in addressing pressing environmental concerns and yielded a tangible outcome with implications for both industry and environmental conservation.