• TurtlePower
      link
      fedilink
      English
      25 months ago

      3D printers, period. The microplastics they create are insane.

      • Avid Amoeba
        link
        fedilink
        English
        1
        edit-2
        5 months ago

        How do printers create microplastics? I’d think they wouldn’t be significantly different than other ways of manufacturing plastic parts. Genuinely curious.

        • TurtlePower
          link
          fedilink
          English
          85 months ago

          After printing you have to not only trim the extra bits, but you have to sand it down, whereas manufacturers use molds and only have to trim the seams.

          • Avid Amoeba
            link
            fedilink
            English
            2
            edit-2
            5 months ago

            Ah so the finishing work. Makes sense.

            E: Reading about PLA specifically, it appears to be compostable. Also burning it doesn’t produce nasty byproducts. So perhaps 3D printing with PLA isn’t that bad, of one takes care of the excess.