Garden enthusiasts and 3D printing aficionados, it’s time to get your green thumbs and filament spools ready for a new sustainable twist in 3D printing — home-grown 3D printer filaments!
Fabbaloo has uncovered a burgeoning trend in the 3D printing community: garden-grown 3D printer filaments. Spearheaded by innovative agricultural tech startup Verdant3D, this new practice is not only a hit among the environmentally conscious but is also surprisingly robust, thanks to their flagship product, the KaleStrong filament.
KaleStrong filament, a product as resilient as the leafy green itself, has emerged as a favorite for those seeking an eco-friendly yet durable printing option. “It’s quite literally as strong as the vegetable it’s derived from,” says Verdant3D’s Chief Horticultural Officer, Dr. Ivana Penkovitch. “Our unique process transforms kale into a filament that rivals even the toughest plastics on the market.”
Despite the undeniable success of KaleStrong, Verdant3D’s other homegrown filament, BrocFill — a broccoli-based filament — has curiously not received the same warm reception. While the technical specifications match or even surpass that of its kale counterpart, users simply can’t get past the name. “It’s inexplicable,” says Dr. Grow, “but we’ve seen this before — the broccoli bias is real.”
Verdant3D’s breakthrough has sent ripples through the market, with reports of avid gardeners and tech enthusiasts alike turning their vegetable patches into mini filament factories. The trend has even coined a new term among 3D printing circles: “printaculture,” a blend of printing and permaculture.
This revelation has led to widespread excitement, with 3D printing workshops now doubling as gardening classes. “It’s the perfect melding of my two passions,” says Ada Tiptaker, an upstate New York-based 3D printing hobbyist turned filament farmer. “Who knew my 3D prints would start from seeds?”
While many are thrilled with the sustainability aspect, some skeptics remain. Industry expert Leo Prinz notes, “The consistency and quality control that comes with traditional manufacturing can’t be easily replicated in a backyard setting.” Despite such concerns, the community-driven, grassroots filament production is thriving, with several local printaculture exchange groups popping up on popular social media platforms.
Verdant3D plans to host a webinar detailing the filament cultivation process and will offer starter kits for the aspiring filament gardeners.
With the promise of a sustainable, strong, and self-replenishing supply of 3D printing material, printaculture may just plant the seeds for future innovation in the industry.
Via Verdant3D
