Stackable Hydroponic Tower by minist3r

minist3r

Household>Garden

Print Profile(1)

All

X1 Carbon

P1S

P1P

X1E

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

Designer

21.6 h

8 plates

4.0(7)

Open in Bambu Studio

Boost

156

Released

Description

I was inspired by other models with a similar design but all of them failed to meet my standards for a 3d printed project. This has been designed from the ground up to solve several problems I had with the other designs like, a locking mechanism for each section that doesn't require additional hardware but can still be disassembled without breaking anything, integrated tube to carry water to the top, a lid that fits most 5 gallon buckets, a top cap that keeps water inside and the 3mf includes 2" net pots and growing medium if you use small seed starters (like the Aerogarden pods). A few of the parts do require supports but the only one that is actually difficult to remove them from is the center lid base plate. There is also a nut that screws to the bottom of the center base plate to help hold everything together. I bought a pump with a 7.5' head and plan on using the full 5' of tower available with no perceived weaknesses that might prevent that.

I highly recommend this model for starting seeds. If cotton is placed in the bottom of the split pot, the height of the soil and root ball is perfect for my included net pots.
Self Watering Seed Starter/Planter with Splittable Pots and Greenhouse Dome by Makefy - MakerWorld

hydroponicsystem

hydroponic

Comment & Rating (21)

@user_3899245642

Boosted

Loved this print from beginning to end a couple thing i would do a little bit different is i would add more holes in the dispersion lid ( im learning cad now and wanted permission b4 atempting to alter your design but any help you can offer would be amazing) and i would note to print with 100% infill i found the ones i printed in petg wouldnt lock as well with the stock settings. but this was my first full 3d printed project and i enjoyed every minute of it. thank you for such a clean design will show updates when in a month to see what i yeild i have had im printing the recommended seed starters now as my next project..

The designer has replied

@minist3r

Feel free to remix however you see fit. I'm thinking about redesigning the entire thing because of some problems I'm having with mine like leaking from where the sections snap together. I also want to try and eliminate the lid so you can just make a hole in the lid that fits whatever bucket so it fits tighter.

@user_3899245642

Boosted

Replying to @minist3r :

I too have alot of leaking I think the fix is to reverse the way they lock together have the top module insert into the bottom and instead of the bottom being a smaller locking

@minist3r

Replying to @user_3899245642 :

That was what I was going to try, I just haven't had time to mess with it yet.

@centered

Boosted

I printed two of these. How did you get yours to be see-thru? I used Creality transparent and it's not clear. Purple on accident. This one is in PETG.

The designer has replied

@minist3r

The see through image was a rendering to show the inner workings of the design. My actual printed part was in white ABS and there are pictures of that too.

@campiossasco1

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

(Edited)

The designer has replied

@minist3r

Have you tried drying your filament? This looks like it might be a bit wet to me.

@3dprinting4silv

it would be great if you would add the link to the Pump, timer and other components. Great design. I love that it is all integrated. I haven't printed it just yet. Let me know how your 3d printed substrate is working out, seems like it would dry the roots out pretty quick as they don't retain water. Super interested in this build just need a little more info to pull the trigger.

The designer has replied

@minist3r

Here is the timer and pump that I used but I plan on making my tower really tall, so I bought a pump with a lot of head. So far, the roots don't seem to be drying out, but I don't have a lot of root growth yet. I'm running the pump 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off which seems to be doing well but I think that is partly because of the surface of the printed growing media is holding more water than you would think. https://a.co/d/c3QWGXS https://a.co/d/7EfWM60

(Edited)

@Cal1n

Boosted

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

The design is great but the tolerances between sections are far too big. Water leaks between each section consistently. I solved the water presssure issue in the middle tube by wrapping the smaller connecting section with a bit of masking tape to get a better seal. Outer walls still leak between sections but this is less of an issue.

The designer has replied

@minist3r

Thanks for the feedback. I've been having some leaking around the outer edges as well but I haven't figured out a way to address it without completely redesigning the whole thing.

@mattman1231

I'm having issues getting the tree part to attach to the rental bucket lid part

The designer has replied

@minist3r

Are you talking about the base of the tree that attaches to the 6 lid pieces?

@benmull77

how tight of a fit is the lid on the bucket? i printed it and its almost 1/2 inch bigger then the 2 buckets i tried.

The designer has replied

@minist3r

It's not very tight but that's because I tried out 3 different 5 gallon buckets and there was about a 10mm difference in the outer diameter. I intentionally made it a little bigger to accommodate as many different buckets as possible.

@user_831316325

Boosted

Print Profile

0.2mm layer, 2 walls, 15% infill

all parts printed beautifully, however, when assembled, the tower sections separate and topple easily without much force. Perhaps I'm missing something? I'll have to find a way to reinforce the whole column.