Hello there! Thanks for stopping by! Let me introduce my original compact vertical cascade planter (that was a lot of adjectives, I’ll refer it as the “cascade planter” from now on!).
First of all, let’s talk about the inspiration.
Inspiration:
We all love a good house-plant. Or two. Or ten. Fine, I’ll admit it. I genuinely want to fill my house with plants. But generic flower pots take up space. A lot of space. And as you collect more and more pots, you’re house will soon look like the scene of the lawn from Plants Vs Zombies.
This is quite unfeasible for some of us living in tight spaces. So here is where 3D printing saves the day!
Features:
With this model, I wanted to create a 3D print that was both compact, yet delivered spaces for a wide variety of plants. In addition, I squeezed in some neat feature (those that come with careful consideration and decent engineering. But before we begin on the juicy features, I would like to note that I am not at all a gardener nor a professional in the field of botany. So I wouldn’t be surprised if there are any inaccuracies in terms of the plants (let me know via DM or comments)
Modular and Swappable
You can unscrew the thread that secures each “unit” together to separate them
You can change the orientation of the planter (swap the order)
Compact
fits in a 160x160 mm (6x6 in) footprint
perfect for desks or cramped porches
Drip irrigation
Excess water from upper “units” will drip down into the soil of the lower “units”
There are already designs of this technique, but mine is unique in its hyper-compact form factor
Side-Compartments
Besides the top “unit”, all of the “units” have the plants growing in “side compartments” (see images for reference)
Enables hanging plants like vines to droop down without interfering with other plants
Currently there are four “directions” the side-compartment faces (Forward, Backward, Right, and Left), but if there is interest, I can always make modifications!
Smart Water-Drainage
In the drip-tray, I incorporated a small bump in the center to encourage the water to flow to the outside to evaporate! (I'm no genius, but I'd say this one was pretty smart)
Navigating the Files:
I tried my best to provide a plethora of files - a plethora of options for power users out there (personally, one of my pet peeve’s is when creators don't provide STEP files, or the files aren’t organized, etc.) However, the abundance of files may make the library a bit hard to navigate. Depending on your needs, each folder serves a unique purpose. Here's how to navigate them!
Ready-to-Go 3mf folder:
contains 3mf files (files that will load the proper orientation and settings when you open it in PrusaSlicer)
use this for convenience! (Just print it after you slice in PrusaSlicer!)
be sure to remember to select the correct filament and printer presets (mine might be different from yours!)
in addition, feel free to tweak settings (increase infill/perimeters, etc.) to suit your needs!
Raw Files (STEP) folder:
contains all of the files, but in the STEP file type
this folder is heavy duty:
Use it to 3D print (but you'll have to figure out the settings yourself)
Use it to customize:
Not everyone uses Fusion as their CAD, but STEP files enable other CAD programs to customize objects (smoothly, without headaches; for the most part)
Raw Files (STL) folder:
contains all of the files, but in the STL file type
used simply for visualization purposes (built-in preview)
not intended for printing since it creates “corner"-artifacts on the cylindrical-shaped model
Fusion File folder:
contains an .f3z file for those that use Fusion (CAD software) and want to remix and modify the design
for general users/printers: you can just ignore that one
General Printing Information (and other miscellaneous stuff that came to mind while typing this at 1 AM at night)
Total amount of filament: Around 1kg (using the 3mfs. I made them extra strong to make 'em water-tight) for one of each piece.
0.2 mm clearance modelled
With that said, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
AZ3D
