xxxolivierxxx

hero

03/12/2019 at 17:47

Welcome to Precious Plastic @sandeepy
Your motor is not going to work. Good/strong washing machine motors are usually close to 0.5hp, and you need at least 5 times more power to shred plastic.

You could try reducing the gear to gain more torque, but you would end up with a shredder spinning at 10RPM.

s2019

warrior

03/12/2019 at 19:50

If you are just getting started, the shredder does not recycle plastic by itself, it just makes flakes. The only machine that really needs small flakes is the extruder. If you have not already built an extruder, then you may not need the shredder. If you already built an extruder, then you already needed and have a strong motor.

I would start with a hot press machine or and injection machine. Both of them can readily use hand cut plastic and are much easier/cheaper to build.

sandeepy

starter

04/12/2019 at 07:36

Thanks for the suggestion. I am just getting started and i will start with the injection machine then as you pointed out. Any tips for me to salvage/reuse components from any old machines to make this???

xxxolivierxxx

hero

04/12/2019 at 08:20

@sandeepy
From old machines you can salvage belts, electrical wiring, switches. You can use an old washing machine to wash your plastic.
I suggests looking for all agricultural motors or searching for scrapyards, you might be lucky and find a good worm gear reducer and/or a strong motor.

If you find anything that you consider might be valuable/useful, post it here and we will let give you ideas of how you might use it.

xxxolivierxxx

hero

04/12/2019 at 18:57

Make a lathe with a washing machine motor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiGyFsEcIYY

4 projects you can do with a washing machine motor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE-J97hWxE4

s2019

warrior

04/12/2019 at 19:19

The injection machine is relatively easy to build without a lot of resources but you will need the heaters and temperature controller(s). To use the injection machine you will need to make some molds. These can be simple bolted together or welded for simple geometries, or can become complex machine parts. There are also size limitations for the items produced.

The hot press machine can also be relatively easy to produce and can generate basic shapes that can be assembled into larger more complex items.

It would help if you told us what experience and shop resources you have in metal fabrication.

If you have not already done so, browse through the Bazar and see what items people are making and which you think you would have the capability to make.

The machines are just tools, they don’t make anything by themselves.

Good luck

trapperdaf

starter

05/12/2019 at 05:50

Sandeepy, if that is the motor you can get, then use it or save it for. As stated, it may be geared low and slow, but it would work.  I also think that if you use chains or belts to run it, you could modify the machine later to accommodate a more powerful motor. I have been toying with the idea of using the heater coils from mini split air conditioning units as a way to heat the plastic in the injector tube. I’ll bet that as a community we could help you cobble something together. As s2019 asked, what assets do you have available?