The Bottle Upcycler is a machine that transforms empty bottles into drinking glasses. We were inspired by the elegance of artisanal glassware and the opportunity to make "trash" destined for the recycling bin into something beautiful.
The machine works like a low-speed lathe, turning the bottle as different operations are carried out on the glass. To crack the bottle, it is first scored, then heated, flash-cooled, sanded and finally broken.
The user presses a button corresponding to each step in the cutting process. The button press signals our microcontroller to move the pieces necessary for the operation into the right places.
The machine works like a low-speed lathe, turning the bottle as different operations are carried out on the glass. To crack the bottle, it is first scored, then heated, flash-cooled, sanded and finally broken.
The user presses a button corresponding to each step in the cutting process. The button press signals our microcontroller to move the pieces necessary for the operation into the right places.
Check out our website for insight into our learning goals, inspiration and process. Our Mechanical and Electrical & Software pages have more detailed technical information on our subsystems. Our gallery has more photos and videos of the Bottle Upcycler in action.