Recycling materials in various environments including reduced gravity …

This invention describes a machine that takes old, unwanted objects and turns them into new plastic or metal string, called filament, which can then be used in a 3D printer. It works by first breaking down the old material into smaller pieces, then pushing it through a system that melts and shapes it into a continuous strand, and finally winding that strand onto a spool. The claims specify that the machine includes a system to reduce the material's size and actively push it through, and can also include a drying system and electronically controlled doors.