Customizable plant watering bulb

prusaprinters

<p>I downloaded a 3D-printable plant waterer that I can no longer find. The angled shape made it very easy to print in vase mode and to make it water-tight. Given its utility and the fact I think others may find it useful, I created my own version in FreeCAD that you can either print using the existing model or customize using the included FreeCAD project file.</p><h3>Maximizing your chance at a watertight print</h3><p>I have found that you can really increase your odds at a print that holds water by taking the following steps.</p><ol><li>Set your layer height to 0.15mm</li><li>Either turn on vase mode, or set your perimeters to 2 perimeters, no infill, no top layers</li><li>Increase your extrusion width to 0.6mm (yes, you can do this with a 0.4mm nozzle successfully)</li><li>Print at a slower speed - “quality” settings versus “speed” settings</li></ol><h3>Customizing your waterer</h3><p>If you wish to customize the bulb, you will need to install FreeCAD. Once you have done so, open the <strong>Plant watering bulb.FCSTD</strong> project.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>To adjust the parameters, you first must open the spreadsheet by double-clicking on its icon in the Combo View:</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/134986/rich_content/437487cc-ff36-4953-9834-8c5a135af2a9/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%222c40f728-7596-470e-9cf6-c60afa4e37cb%22%2C%22w%22%3A350%2C%22h%22%3A598%7D"></figure><p>There are only three parameters:</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/134986/rich_content/2beb8a5e-599a-4dc9-8523-69c40042925d/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22d5793556-db99-4b78-b9a2-29637587e216%22%2C%22w%22%3A339%2C%22h%22%3A212%7D"></figure><ul><li>The base size determines how large the base of the water bottle is and, consequently, how large the water vessel ultimately is.</li><li>The nozzle length is how long the thin nozzle, that is to be plunged into the dirt, should be.</li><li>The nozzle diameter is how large the nozzle opening is at its tip.</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By adjusting these parameters you can easily make a waterer that is smaller or larger, and adjust the length of the nozzle depending on how deep you wish the water to go.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Once you are satisfied with the size of your model, click on the “<strong>WateringBulb</strong>” in the Combo View:</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/134986/rich_content/6551ceb0-9e2e-43e4-b236-c024375943d7/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22433fa6f9-7eee-4e44-b332-53ebf8b16863%22%2C%22w%22%3A335%2C%22h%22%3A393%7D"></figure><p>Then, select <strong>File-Export</strong>:</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/134986/rich_content/06ff7099-eed6-4303-9bc3-9dac9c3154a0/image.png#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22f6ece139-72c9-41ca-8fa4-0405cf684189%22%2C%22w%22%3A282%2C%22h%22%3A626%7D"></figure><p>You can then save the bulb as an STL or AMF file to import into PrusaSlicer or another slicer of your choice.</p><h3>Share your print!</h3><p>Get those sweet, sweet Prusameter points! Share your print and how it's helping your houseplant!</p>