Hardware Podcasts

230. 3D Printing Gets the Hannah Montana Treatment

The Next Byte Podcast · 7 Oct 2025 · 15m

What this episode covers

The hosts discuss 'SustainUp Print,' an open-source software tool from MIT that enables dual-extruder 3D printers to mix strong virgin oil-based plastics with weaker, eco-friendly recycled or biodegradable filaments. By using finite element analysis (FEA) to identify critical stress zones, the tool reinforces only those areas with strong plastic while filling the rest with sustainable material, achieving 70% of full strength with only 20% virgin plastic. The conversation also touches on the limitations of recycled polymers due to chain degradation and the potential for this hybrid approach to optimize for cost and mechanical performance beyond just sustainability.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
MIT, Mouser Electronics
Products
SustainUp Print

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