01 / The question
Can discarded plastic become a functional gear?
The team explored transforming plastic waste into usable gears while adapting a small-scale heating and forming setup.
02 / The intuition
A mechanism worth testing.
Material selection, process capability and practical constraints have to agree. A recycling concept only becomes useful when the resulting part can do a job.
03 / The work
Inside the method.
Explore each part of the approach.
01Explore the process
The project compared waste streams and the constraints of heating, forming and releasing the material.
02Adapt the equipment
Technical problems led to changes in the setup and its handling; mechanical tests informed material assessment.
03Coordinate the work
Julien’s documented role included external communication with teachers and coordination around shared equipment in a seven-person team.
04 / The observations
What emerged.
The notes describe a functional gear made from a formed PLA blank, alongside unsuccessful or constrained material trials. They also document budget and scheduling tradeoffs.
This account is based on recorded project notes. Original reports, figures and datasets are not embedded here.
05 / The limits
Where the evidence stops.
This is a team outcome, not an individual manufacturing claim. Durability, process repeatability and comparative environmental benefit need additional evidence.
The academic foundations