The Babylon Hanging Basket (Planter) and Bird feeder - Modular

prusaprinters

<h3><strong>The Babylon Hanging Basket</strong></h3><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i>Us Brits call them hanging baskets but I think they're better known as hanging planters in the rest of the world, anyway…..&nbsp;</i></p><p>I wanted to design something that could be modular in design and therefore fit many different use cases. &nbsp;I selected a hexagonal/honeycomb design as it's a great functional shape but also very aesthetically pleasing. &nbsp;As in the name it also draws inspiration from one of the wonders of the world, showcasing the best of nature. &nbsp;</p><p>I had in mind that it should be flexible, such that you could have simple planters or create complex designs on multiple levels. &nbsp;They could even cascade down in a spiral shape. &nbsp;</p><p>In order to allow this flexibility I designed the planters to have two integrated slots on each face. &nbsp;This lends the design perfectly to 3D printing. &nbsp;The slots have a corresponding connector. &nbsp;The connectors simply slide in, locking pods together once hung.</p><p>There is scope for new connectors to be designed providing new configurations and use cases. I have provided a drawing showing the key connector dimensions. &nbsp;</p><p>I've designed connectors allowing the planters to be joined at a variety of levels as well as fixing brackets to hang them by.</p><p>There are good reasons for having ‘pods’ rather than a single hanging planter. &nbsp;You can provide &nbsp;optimal conditions in each hex pod such that the plants can thrive. &nbsp;In a conventional planter the plants are all competing to be seen as most likely it's a single level. &nbsp;With this approach you can work with multiple levels, inverting the hanging connectors allows a further level to be hung below the main one. &nbsp;You can even connect the pods in a row for a window box or balcony planter.</p><p>I've created three different pod designs but I'm sure the community can come up with more. There's a full height, half height and low height. &nbsp;I've design a bird feeder add on for the the low height pod. &nbsp;Each pod has integrated drainage.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/61883/rich_content/249495c6-794f-4bbb-8346-22ed950e0ce2/parts-list.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%221928196b-f563-4e5e-9371-3b1c7089a255%22%2C%22w%22%3A2024%2C%22h%22%3A1414%7D"></figure><p>All components except the connectors can be printed without supports. &nbsp;The connectors require minimal support but should be printed flat to the bed in order to maximise strength in the Z direction.&nbsp;<br>The bird feeder base is attached using m3 screws. Self tapped in to the pod&nbsp;</p><p><strong>How I designed this</strong></p><p>I designed this in Solid Edge. &nbsp;</p><p>There were several test prints until I settled on the design for my pods and connectors. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>Print Guidance</strong></p><p>Pods and bird feeder add-ons were printed at 0.3mm layers with 15% infil. &nbsp;2 can fit on a MK3 build plate approx 24h to print.</p><p>The connectors were printed 0.2mm layers, 3 perimeters with supports.</p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/61883/rich_content/68f66ac4-74be-41a5-abe0-f071b45ce4de/2-x-pod-on-build-plate-mk3s.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2278d379c3-42f9-43bc-94b3-cc028d03bf59%22%2C%22w%22%3A1333%2C%22h%22%3A1288%7D"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/61883/rich_content/f8159437-40cf-4dff-949c-528cd3c8852b/connectors-build-plate.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22e1ebba4d-cf0e-4916-880e-0f9594724805%22%2C%22w%22%3A1426%2C%22h%22%3A1099%7D"></figure><p>&nbsp;</p>