Recycled Plastic Speaker
by Mariah Andrews
August 10th, 2021
I made a Bluetooth speaker case out of recycled plastic collected from a local restaurant and a recycled speaker found at a thrift store.
Electronics come in and out of phase as new technology replaces the older models. This project is extending the life cycle of an obsolete speaker by reinventing an outer case and adding Bluetooth capabilities. By making that process visible, I hope to inspire reflections on our obsession of always having the new item, and redirecting that desire to the value of the object and all of the second-hand qualities that add to the authenticity of the sound of an older technology reimagined in a case that celebrates raw materiality and recycled plastics
The Process
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Collect It.
Only HDPE #2 plastic bottles were collected and washed from food containers, to ensure no contaminations were on the container. Plastic was also separated by color.
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Shred It.
An industrial shredder was used to shred the larger bottles into 1⁄4 inch square pieces. One-color of plastic was shredded at a time to be able to mix plastic at the next stage.
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Press It.
Using a steel mold with ridges that were 1⁄8 inch thick and a thermal press to compress the plastic into the desired sheet. A cooled under a wood board to prevent warping.
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Mold It.
The plastic sheet was cut to the proper dimensions with an exacto knife and 1/16th size holes were drilled in a grid pattern to allow sound to pass through easily.
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Shape It.
Using molds the plastic sheet was bent and clamped until cool. This had to be done to each side and clamped individually. Using a heat gun, to heat the edges of the speaker.
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Make It.
Finally, assembly of the speaker including the electronic and outer casing was done. All electronic components were held on a wooden component.
Other Photos
