World's 1st Desktop Filament Maker??

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

But - is it Really???

So, a good buddy of mine from back in NYC told me about this. We did 3DS Max going way back - and that's how we know each other. We actually used to assist a 3rd buddy of ours - running the local NYC 3DS Max user group.

Anyway - he points me to this promo video - which is on FaceBook. And, I checked it out.

First - I'm shocked they would claim to be "world's first desktop 3d filament maker" - because I thought there were already Several other co's out there already doing this on the desktop. Although, I know the one group was another KickStarter fiasco - with the guy bragging about his machine - even going to shows bragging about it - but, NEVER Actually delivering units to the KS backers - even though I think he got Millions of $$ in KS funding.

This was the link to the FB video:   Loop Video on FB!

Also, this is the direct link to the website for this new product:   LOOPY Website

There's also something else that troubles me about their product claims.

What they don't really mention - for PROPER Filament - you really generally use only like 20% recycled plastic - and you generally need to use 80% FRESH! This is critical - because plastic actually Degrades as you melt it down. This is a known fact. So, I am surprised they would claim you can use Purely recycled filament.

In fact, I just reached out to them with this question of mine. So - we shall see what they have to say about it...

L8r G8rs,
-K
The Bot-Guy

[Vance Howard]

There is a guy on youtube who backed it. KEO Prints I believe. He says he will make videos from time to time. I don't think it's going to work as the loopy people claim if they even deliver to their backers.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

You mentioned Backers - but, I didn't see that they have a KickStarter campaign. 

But, yeah - I see they are trying to get backers - and people ARE "Backing" it. It's actually kind of annoying cause as you sit on their webpage - it just keeps popping these things up:

I did write the co. an email, with some questions about the Loop. Will see if they actually reply back to me!

-K

[Joseph Larson]

There are already desktop filament makers that you can purchase right now like the 3Devo filament maker 2 (https://www.3devo.com/filament-maker-two-fusion-highflow). I don't know what they charge because they don't list the price, just a "contact us" link, so it's probably over $10K. You'd have to make a lot of spools of filament to justify that sort of expense. But that's the standard they're trying to beat. Can they do it? I don't know. I would have said "no" back before I saw China turn a $1000+ 3D printer market into a $200 3D printer market with printers like the ANet A8 and Ender 3. That change came with a ton of corners cut, and an impact on the community that is still being felt, but they did it. Is Loop going to be the Ender of filament making? Maybe.

But somehow I doubt it. just judging from these what I've seen of these guys they seem sincere and seem sincerely willing to make this happen... but way in over their head. Like they don't seem to realize the monumental task they've undertaken. They had some early success with a prototype. Not 100%, but enough that they went "Yeah, we could iron those problems out", and the more they worked with it the less confident they've been that they can fix these problems. When they first came on the scene, they were big and confident, and as time went on they've gotten a lot quieter. But a break through is always one more effort away, so maybe. Maybe.

Until I see this one a reviewers desk making filament I will not be supporting or promoting it. 

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

https://www.filabot.com/collections/filabot-core?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADsggWScIxciNt1SOyFANTV7TuerG&gclid=CjwKCAiAqrG9BhAVEiwAaPu5zhfyWS4x1atJzLwnCxVWMtA56k7QkoQKxeogOfBmDkaSpW5QyoO5shoCJF4QAvD_BwE

Filabot has been around for years. We've spoken to folks who have them and talked with them a long time ago on the podcast. The users we spoke with told us you can get them to work but just like with printing it takes specialized skill and it's not all that reliable.... Also, it's not a cheaper way to go than simply buying spools off Amazon.

We also spoke with the Protopasta folks about building a larger extrusion system like theirs to setup closed recycling within our then Makerspace (which closed during Covid). You can get it to work, but it takes a lot of your time and effort and it's not cheap.

[Jody Harris]

It's not about saving money. It's about an artificial sense of moral superiority, "I recycle my prints.👑" (Which makes me a better person than you. 😇)

Think carefully

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Yeah Andy, Filabot is the one I had been thinking about, which has been around for a number of years. 

Joe also proved my point - with him mentioning yet another co. with a filament extruder. 

Which confirms my point - that this Loop guys would NOT be the first to do it - even though they are claiming that they are. I find it rather Obnoxious when a co. makes claims like this - which simply are NOT TRUE! IF they are going to Brag telling lies - can you EVER Trust them?

I agree, it's probably not an easy process - and now always reliable. Can the Loop guys do it better? We shall see. But, as Joe already mentioned - they seem to have had a lot of stumbling blocks - so, it may be debatable as to whether they will succeed!!!

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Hey there Joe,

Great to see you posting again! And, Wow - interesting to see that Loop was already on your Radar!

I wonder if the 3Devo guys (and even the Filabot guys) admit that you need to add in Fresh plastic to mix with used plastic - for truly viable filament. Since that seems to have been the standard in the past. 

Only time will tell if Loop can make it work...

-K