The use of 3D printers in the production of architectural lighting elements using recycled PET material

This thesis is focused on the production of filament from waste PET bottles. Standard methods such as surface roughness and tensile testing were employed to evaluate the performance of recycled PET filament. It was found that higher fill density improved the mechanical durability of the filament and resulted in a more homogeneous structure. Additionally, the printing of lighting elements using recycled PET filament was successfully carried out at a 1/5 scale. The potential deformation of the PET material and the impact on the performance of the lighting sources due to heat generation over time were examined. Measurements were taken for the light source temperature, operating temperature, and external shell temperature of the lighting elements. Despite the small scale of the printing experiment, no deformation was observed in the utilized material. The findings of this study underscore the importance of recycling waste PET bottles for filament production and assessing the performance of recycled PET filament. This method aims to promote the reuse of plastic waste and contribute to a sustainable production process.