Shelton Engineering and Film teacher Tripp Givens is leading the charge in sustainability with his students' creation of the "Charger Recharger." The invention turns recycled materials into 3D printer filament, showcasing the ingenuity and environmental consciousness of the Shelton Class of 2024.

 

The Charger Recharger can repurpose PET bottles that would otherwise wind up in a landfill into usable 3D printer filament. This allows students to create prototypes, lab parts and other projects using items that would otherwise be considered trash.

 

The engineering students began by researching existing designs online, using CAD software to modify them and then brought their vision to life through 3D printing. A highlight of the project was their resourcefulness in repurposing parts from a broken 3D printer to build the machine. They also constructed a device to cut PET bottles into uniform widths using a combination of wood, 3D-printed parts, and other recycled components. Their ingenuity extended to developing methods for preparing bottles for recycling, laying the foundation for future sustainable projects.

 

Several Shelton alumni played key roles in the Charger Recharger's development, including Alexander Arens, who is currently studying engineering at Purdue University, and Ben Stafford, now pursuing engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Alumni Jack Jones and Will Killebrew also made significant contributions while at Shelton.

 

Current engineering students are excited to take the project further by collaborating with Shelton’s STEM Club, led by Sydney Davis, in their recycling efforts. Together, they plan to brainstorm creative ideas for useful things to 3D print, possibly even creating a display to showcase their work. The Outdoor Club will also join the recycling initiatives, making it a school-wide effort.

 

Givens is already thinking about the future, with a goal of creating a second machine made entirely from recycled materials. As sustainability becomes a key focus, the Charger Recharger serves as a beacon of innovation, community involvement and environmental consciousness at Shelton.