Stop Trashing Failed Prints: 8 Best DIY Filament Recyclers and Extruders

If you’ve been 3D printing for more than a few weeks, you already know the ugly truth: failed prints pile up fast. 

Support structures, purge lines, warped models, calibration cubes—you start with excitement, and before long, you’re staring at a growing pile of plastic scraps. It feels wasteful because… well, it is.

Here’s the good news: those scraps are not trash—they’re raw material. With a DIY filament recycler or DIY filament extruder, you can turn yesterday’s failed prints into tomorrow’s filament spool. It’s cheaper, more sustainable, and honestly, pretty satisfying.

Desktop recycling isn’t perfect yet, but it’s evolving quickly. Even industry observers note that home recycling systems are becoming more accessible and practical, especially for heavy users and makerspaces.

In this guide, we’ll break down 8 of the best DIY filament recyclers and extruders you can actually build or buy—and more importantly, which one makes sense for your workshop.

Why DIY Filament Recycling Matters

Before diving into the machines, let’s get clear on why this matters.

A typical hobbyist can waste hundreds of grams of filament per month, especially during prototyping. And while materials like PLA and PETG are technically recyclable, most municipal systems won’t accept printed parts due to contamination and missing material codes.

That leaves you with three options:

1. Throw it away
2. Hoard it
3. Recycle it yourself

DIY filament extrusion creates a closed-loop system:

1. 1.Shred failed prints
2. 2.Melt and extrude
3. Reuse filament

It’s not just about saving money—it’s about controlling your materials.

What to Expect from a DIY Filament Extruder

Even the best DIY filament extruder won’t match factory-grade filament consistency. You may see:

• Slight diameter variation
• Occasional impurities
• More tuning required

That said, modern systems include filters, calibrated spoolers, and improved screw designs, which significantly improve output quality.

For prototypes, functional parts, and experimentation? More than good enough.

8 Best DIY Filament Recyclers and Extruders

1.ExtrudeX – Best Budget DIY Filament Recycler

If you’re just getting started, ExtrudeX is one of the most accessible options out there.

This system is almost entirely 3D-printable, meaning you can fabricate most of the machine yourself and only source a handful of components.

What makes it stand out is affordability—total build cost can stay under $300 depending on parts.

It works by:

• Feeding shredded plastic into a heated barrel
• Using a motor-driven screw to push material through
• Cooling and pulling filament into shape

It’s not plug-and-play—you’ll need to assemble and tune it—but that’s part of the appeal.

Best for: hobbyists who enjoy building as much as printing.

2.Felfil Evo – Best Modular DIY Filament Extruder System

The Felfil Evo is one of the most well-known names in desktop filament extrusion.

Unlike fully DIY builds, this is a modular ecosystem:

• Extruder
• Spooler
• Optional shredder

Together, they create a complete recycling workflow.

What’s impressive is the level of control:

• Adjustable diameter
• Multi-material compatibility
• Automated winding with precision sensors

It’s widely used in FabLabs and universities, which says a lot about its reliability.

Best for: serious makers who want consistent results without reinventing everything.

3.ARTME 3D MK2 – Best Open-Source DIY Recycler Kit

The ARTME 3D MK2 sits somewhere between hardcore DIY and semi-professional equipment.

It’s a self-assembly kit that includes detailed instructions and a thoughtfully engineered extrusion system.

Notable features:

• Custom feeding screw for smoother extrusion
• Built-in melt filter for cleaner filament
• Compact design for home workshops

Assembly takes time (7–16 hours), but the result is a capable recycler that balances performance and accessibility.

Best for: makers who want a structured DIY build with strong engineering behind it.

4. Felfil Complete System – Best All-in-One Recycling Setup

If you want a true closed-loop system, the full Felfil setup is worth considering.

It combines:

• Shredder
• Extruder
• Spooler

This allows you to go from failed prints to new filament in one streamlined process.

The system supports multiple materials (PLA, ABS, PETG) and can save up to 70–80% on filament costs by using pellets or recycled material .

Best for: small print farms or workshops with high material turnover.

5. Open-Source Filament Extruder Projects (RepRap-Style)

There are dozens of open-source extruder designs inspired by the RepRap movement.

These typically include:

• Printed housings
• Auger screw mechanisms
• DIY heating blocks

They’re extremely customizable, but also the most experimental.

Expect:

• Trial and error
• Custom firmware tuning
• Iterative upgrades

Best for: engineers and hardcore tinkerers.

6. Filastruder (DIY Kit Classic)

The Filastruder has been around for years and remains a go-to entry point.

It’s not fully printable like ExtrudeX, but it offers:

• Reliable heating system
• Proven extrusion design
• Optional accessories like spoolers

Think of it as the “Arduino” of filament extrusion—simple, flexible, and widely supported.

Best for: beginners who want a stable DIY starting point.

7. Loop-Style Compact Recyclers (Emerging Category)

Newer systems like LOOP aim to combine shredding and extrusion into a single compact device.

While still evolving, they focus on:

• Precision control
• Smaller footprint
• Simplified workflow

Industry coverage suggests these systems could represent the next step toward mainstream adoption .

Best for: early adopters watching the future of desktop recycling.

8.DIY Pellet Extruders for Advanced Users

Instead of recycling prints directly, some makers go one step further: pellet extrusion.

• Convert waste into pellets
• Feed pellets into an extruder

This approach gives more consistent results but requires additional equipment like shredders and pelletizers.

Best for: advanced users aiming for near-commercial filament quality.

Bonus: A More Integrated Approach — Creality Filament Maker M1 & Creality Shredder R1

If you like the idea of DIY filament recycling but prefer something more integrated and streamlined, Creality’s upcoming solution is worth paying attention to.

The M1 & R1 system (also referred to as “Filastudio”) takes the same closed-loop concept—shred → melt → reuse—and packages it into a more unified, desktop-friendly workflow. Instead of assembling separate modules or tuning multiple DIY components, you get a system designed to work together out of the box.

• The R1 handles shredding failed prints, supports, and scraps into reusable fragments
• The M1 extrudes that material into new filament with controlled temperature zones and diameter monitoring

For makers who:

• Print frequently
• Generate significant material waste
• Want to experiment with custom filament
• But don’t want to fully DIY a system

👉Learn more or reserve early access: https://crowdfunding.creality.com/

Final Thoughts

DIY filament recycling isn’t just a cost-saving hack—it’s a mindset shift.

Instead of seeing failed prints as mistakes, you start seeing them as raw material. That’s a powerful change, especially as 3D printing continues to grow.

And while desktop recycling still has limitations, it’s clearly moving forward. Affordable systems like ExtrudeX and modular platforms like Felfil are making it more accessible than ever.

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