The increasing demand for low-cost, high-quality plastic filament, in the local market, has directed research into the development of efficient local extruders for use in additive manufacturing. This paper presents the design and prototyping of a filament extruder, aiming at producing high-quality 1.75 mm filament, specifically for FDM 3D printers use, while reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact. The extruder was developed with a modular approach, incorporating design analysis, temperature and speed controllers for a much efficient extrusion. The proposed extruder offers a scalable and cost-effective solution for filament manufacturing, with potential applications in small-scale production facilities and recycling research centers for plastics. Future work will explore integration of the production line and adding recycled plastic into the raw material.

Keywords

Cost Reduction, FDM 3D Printers, Filament Extruder, Recycling, Plastic pellets, Additive Manufacturing.