HavocNov 16, 2022
Thinking about circular economies and @hydroponictrash 's recent writing on modular repair and construction systems.
It'll be interesting to create a "reverse-LEGO" System, where System parts can be used to repair non-System products. Eventually, Ship-of-Theseus style, products would end up becoming entirely made of System parts as their old ones break and are replaced. To this end, you have to make sure the System is interoperable both with itself and with pre-existing products.
Further, it would be best if the System were not only easy to manufacture, but easy to acquire resources for. This is a big part of the #Junkpunk aesthetic, going out of your way to reuse pre-existing material. In the context of our System, this might involve anything from collecting screws of standard System size off non-System products, or searching for plastics to turn into stock for 3D printing. 3D printable printers and recyclable stock would be a HUGE jump towards making this a reality. #solarpunk
Show threadHydroponicTrashNov 16, 2022

@havoc Hell yeah, interoperability would be the biggest thing. A big gripe I have with most modular designs is that they are modular in their own ecosystem, but having a modular framework gives the guidelines enough to be able to have things work interoperabily, while also not needing to fit a need super strict standard or aesthetic.

Thankfully most stuff like screws are to a standard (for the most part) and can be reused. Plenty of proprietary stuff can't be reused though, especially if it was a planned obsolescence situation. But even then, we can look at it instead of broken, as just feedstock to use and remake into something else. Compared to just saying "eh fuck it it's broken", buying a new one while the old thing sits in a landfill for 500 years.

I've seen some amazing work by people making 3D printer filament recyclers that can turn some plastic bottles into 3D printing filament. Most of the same idea applies to most plastics. So when you print an object, and don't need it or it isn't repairable, chuck it in a shredder, melt it back down into fillament, make something new. No waste, no shipping, less impacts to the ecology. Way better than what we got going right now.

Show threadHavocNov 16, 2022
@hydroponictrash In a more speculative line of thought, imagine if we could apply 3D printing tech into other materials like MDF. In theory, you could fabricate a complete piece of furniture out of plastic fasteners and MDF, at most needing some screws from an outside source. That'd be a HUGE leap in sustainable modular production.
Show threadHydroponicTrash

@havoc True, true, lots of other materials to mess around with. Seen some interesting alternatives to MDF to cut down on the need for the lumber scraps used to make it by using mycelium as a substrate instead of wood. Either way, that would be really interesting to have a liquid MDF to print with.

It could for sure be done, I was talking to a friend who showed me this old expired patent for like the first 3D house/dome printer from the 1930's, same idea could be used with different materials than concrete, or a similar design by modifying the end to work like a large format 3D printer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl9rhG5BPrM

To do what your talking about, larger scale stuff using different materials.

The Real First 3D Printed Building (1930's)

YouTube
Nov 16, 2022 at 6:47pmWeb