3D-Printed Shredder Eats Lettuce For Breakfast

Shredding things isn’t just good for efficiently and securely disposing Of them. It’s also very fun, as well. [Joonas] of [Let’s Print] didn’t have a shredder, so set about 3D printing one of their very own.

The design apes that of the big metal trash shredders you’ve probably seen in videos all over the internet. They use large, counter-rotating drums. The teeth grab and pull objects between the drums as they turn. They are then torn into smaller pieces.

These plastic drums can be used to service this design. [Joonas] The shredder does not come with a metal 3-D printer. The shredder is driven by a brushed DC motor. A large multi-stage gearbox is used to step down the motor’s output and provide plenty of torque to do the job.

With lots of hilarious garbage, the shredder is put to the test. You can put anything, from vegetables to paper and even rock-hard cheeseburgers through the shredder. It does an able job in all cases, though obviously the plastic drums can’t handle the same kind of jobs as a proper metal shredder. However, the shredder can’t handle harder plastics and aluminium cans. The gearbox can also strip gears on tougher material. While the theory is sound in principle, some upgrades can really make this machine shine.

It is a device that can be used in a variety of situations. Perhaps not. This device is certainly a good idea and would make a great addition to your hackerspace Show and Tell. Absolutely. This is a great way of getting rid of those unfinished projects, which can clog up your storage space. Video after the break.