A process for using coffee, pistachio shells, coconut shells, sand, or combinations thereof, as fillers in 3D printing, said process comprising the following steps:
- Step 1:
- Obtain fillers wherein the fillers are comprised of one or more of the following:
- coffee, pistachio shells, coconut shells, or sand,
- where the volumes of said fillers may be as follows:
- if sand is used as a filler then:
- coffee constitutes not more than about 30 percent of the volume of all fillers;
- pistachio shells constitute not more than about 35 percent of the volume of all fillers;
- coconut shells constitute not more than about 50 percent of the volume of all fillers;
- if sand is not used as a filler:
- coffee may constitute any amount of the volume of all fillers;
- pistachio shells may constitute any amount of the volume of all fillers;
- coconut shells may constitute any amount of the volume of all fillers;
- Step 2:
- If advantageous to Step 3 or if the chosen fillers do not have a moisture content of approximately 5% by weight or less, then dry the chosen fillers to said moisture content;
- Step 3:
- If the chosen fillers are not of consistent particle size in the range from about 165 μm to about 380 μm, then grind the chosen fillers and sort the resulting particles to create a powder of the chosen fillers with consistent particle size in said range;
- Step 4:
- Select a means for binding the dried particles of the chosen fillers in a 3D printer, said means for binding comprising one or more of the following:
- a furan binder, a silicate binder, a phenolic binder, or a lignin sulfonate binder;
- and
- Step 5:
- Load a 3D file that defines an object to be printed onto a 3D printer and 3D print the object to be printed using the 3D printing composition.