***Large version available here here:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/453648

Strawberry season is upon us and my experience is that the fruits don't like to be on the ground in dirt and mud because it is prone to rot. Why it did not evolve to be a bush instead is beyond me, but hey this is a good opportunity for some problem solving with 3D printing. I am using store bought strawberry supports and since I have a printer, I was also downloading and testing some designs, but I haven't found any that worked for me perfectly, so I set out to create one from scratch to incorporate what I have learned by using these.

Features:

- Support size: 23 cm (~9 inch) diameter
- Leg size: 10 cm (4 inch) - you can push it to the ground to set your height preference

- The round support is cut in half to allow for easier insertion close to the plant.
- Each half has 3 legs, so it will not topple over
- Legs are printed laying down, instead of standing up so it will be much stronger this way
- Each leg is pointy, so it will allow for easier insertion to the soil (our soil contains a lot of clay)
- Each leg has a strong turnable locking mechanism to keep it in place, no glue required. This was one of the things that pointed me to design my own one, since none of the designs I found had it and legs were always a pain. If you glue them in, it will take up too much space for storage while it is sitting in the shed waiting for the next season.

Word of caution/ additional tips and tricks:

- ASA recommended since these will be bombarded with UV rays from the sun, so if you want them to serve for a lot of seasons, it is better to use ASA. Depending on your brand of filament, PLA might give you a few seasons as well since these tend to be outside only for a month or two every season.
- The legs print fine with 0.2mm layer height, but then they will give you a textbook stairstepping on the surface. You can decrease the layer height as you see fit, but in reality it does not impact the functionality in any way.
- Inserting the legs maybe a bit tricky depending on your filament and how tuned your printer is. If it is too hard when trying to insert these perpendicular to the base, then try inserting just one corner first in a 45 degree angle and then move it to 90 degree while one corner is in there, it tends to be much easier this way.
- There is an overhang area where the leg locking mechanism is located. Again depending on a number of factors, you printer might string here a little bit, but a Bambu should be more than capable to produce this overhang without any supports. The legs tend to be strong enough to remove the excess strings here when locking in place for the first time, but if you feel that it does not want to turn, you might need to do a bit of cleanup with a box cutter.
- Turn the legs half a turn (180 degrees) in any direction to lock them in place. Removal is done the same way.