Parametric Module Using Recycled Fab Lab Materials Through Digital Technologies: A COIL Strategy Toward the Circular Economy

Abstract

A Fab Lab is a collaborative environment that provides shared material resources, fabrication processes, tools, and knowledge for experimentation and prototype development. This study connects a previously developed parametric module with an exploratory material-recovery workflow based on recycled cardboard waste generated in the UTPL Fab Lab. The parametric-module geometry had been previously developed and physically fabricated using conventional sheet material. In the present study, small-scale recycled-cardboard cellulose-fiber composite specimens were produced by varying pulp preparation, moisture content, adhesive dosage, pressing conditions, molding procedures, and drying methods. The specimens were evaluated through preliminary qualitative observations of cohesion during demolding and handling, approximate thickness control, visible cracking, dimensional stability, surface condition, edge integrity, and ease of handling. The results identify candidate formulations for future investigation, including a reference press-assisted configuration and a promising lower-resource formulation. A reduced-scale manually assembled prototype provided preliminary evidence that the proposed geometry can be represented using the recycled-cardboard material. However, the study does not validate full-scale fabrication, CNC routing, laser cutting, structural performance, or long-term functional use of recycled-cardboard panels. The study contributes a preliminary workflow linking Fab Lab waste recovery, material experimentation, parametric design, and circular-economy-oriented prototyping.