Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I turned my contaminated 3D printer waste into homemade recycled plastic products using desktop injection molding... and honestly, I wasn't expecting it to work this well. Brought to you by PCBWay. Use code βPCBWay-TheNextLayer-10β at jle.vi/pcbway to get $10 OFF any order of $30 or more.
I've spent the last two years trying to recycle 3d printer waste back into usable filament. And while it works, (mostly) it's messy, time-consuming, and incredibly sensitive to contamination. So when plasticpreneur offered to loan me their new "GO!" desktop injection molding machine, I couldn't resist putting it to the test.
In this video, I take contaminated, 100% recycled PLA from failed 3d prints and 3d printer poop... and try turning it into finished products through DIY injection molding. No virgin material, no shortcuts, just shredded-up 3d printer waste, mold design experiments, and plenty of trial and error.
After weeks of testing, learning, and dozens of parts, I think I finally have an answer to whether injection molding could be a practical solution for DIY 3D print recycling. And honestly... I think there's something here.
Let's get after it.
π€« Get my custom filament and printer profiles, buyers guides, and much, much more on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
π¬ JOIN MY DISCORD: jle.vi/tnl-discord
π₯ IN THIS VIDEO: π₯
00:00 Introduction
01:14 The Problem(s)
03:53 The Machine
05:37 Machine Setup
05:51 Injection Mold Options
07:01 Injection Mold Design
09:37 Getting Professional Molds Made
11:38 Initial Tests
21:28 Full-Scale Production
23:04 The Results
23:57 Conclusion
π LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO: π
π plasticpreneur: plasticpreneur.com - use code TNL at checkout for 5% OFF
π HeyGears PAH270 Resin: jle.vi/heygears
πMy 3D Printing Filament Recycling Series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAIMkOXd_V_o9dkTBbgP9_CMdNdmOdwv
π3D Printing Filament Recycling Challenges: youtu.be/TAT1BYj9ygs
π RECOMMENDED GEAR: π
πPLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL BY SHOPPING USING MY LINKS! FULL LIST CAN BE FOUND AT: jle.vi/links
πMy favorite thing to 3D Print: jle.vi/multiboard
πMy favorite 3D printing "accessory": jle.vi/magigoo
πCheck out the official TNL merch: shop.thenextlayer.com
β€οΈ LOVED THIS VIDEO? β€οΈ
βΆοΈ Subscribe to the channel
βΆοΈ Watch my other videos: youtube.com/@thenextlayer
π Turn on Notifications
π Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
π Send a βSuper Thanksβ (Tip)
π Use my affiliate links for your 3D printing needs: jle.vi/links
π¬ Join My Discord: jle.vi/tnl-discord
βοΈ Write a comment below!
ππΏ Like this video
Local Elevator by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
#plasticrecycling #3dprinting #injectionmolding
I turned my contaminated 3D printer waste into homemade recycled plastic products using desktop injection molding... and honestly, I wasn't expecting it to work this well. Brought to you by PCBWay. Use code βPCBWay-TheNextLayer-10β at jle.vi/pcbway to get $10 OFF any order of $30 or more.
I've spent the last two years trying to recycle 3d printer waste back into usable filament. And while it works, (mostly) it's messy, time-consuming, and incredibly sensitive to contamination. So when plasticpreneur offered to loan me their new "GO!" desktop injection molding machine, I couldn't resist putting it to the test.
In this video, I take contaminated, 100% recycled PLA from failed 3d prints and 3d printer poop... and try turning it into finished products through DIY injection molding. No virgin material, no shortcuts, just shredded-up 3d printer waste, mold design experiments, and plenty of trial and error.
After weeks of testing, learning, and dozens of parts, I think I finally have an answer to whether injection molding could be a practical solution for DIY 3D print recycling. And honestly... I think there's something here.
Let's get after it.
π€« Get my custom filament and printer profiles, buyers guides, and much, much more on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
π¬ JOIN MY DISCORD: jle.vi/tnl-discord
π₯ IN THIS VIDEO: π₯
00:00 Introduction
01:14 The Problem(s)
03:53 The Machine
05:37 Machine Setup
05:51 Injection Mold Options
07:01 Injection Mold Design
09:37 Getting Professional Molds Made
11:38 Initial Tests
21:28 Full-Scale Production
23:04 The Results
23:57 Conclusion
π LINKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO: π
π plasticpreneur: plasticpreneur.com - use code TNL at checkout for 5% OFF
π HeyGears PAH270 Resin: jle.vi/heygears
πMy 3D Printing Filament Recycling Series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAIMkOXd_V_o9dkTBbgP9_CMdNdmOdwv
π3D Printing Filament Recycling Challenges: youtu.be/TAT1BYj9ygs
π RECOMMENDED GEAR: π
πPLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL BY SHOPPING USING MY LINKS! FULL LIST CAN BE FOUND AT: jle.vi/links
πMy favorite thing to 3D Print: jle.vi/multiboard
πMy favorite 3D printing "accessory": jle.vi/magigoo
πCheck out the official TNL merch: shop.thenextlayer.com
β€οΈ LOVED THIS VIDEO? β€οΈ
βΆοΈ Subscribe to the channel
βΆοΈ Watch my other videos: youtube.com/@thenextlayer
π Turn on Notifications
π Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
π Send a βSuper Thanksβ (Tip)
π Use my affiliate links for your 3D printing needs: jle.vi/links
π¬ Join My Discord: jle.vi/tnl-discord
βοΈ Write a comment below!
ππΏ Like this video
Local Elevator by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
#plasticrecycling #3dprinting #injectionmolding
