Versatile Filament Spool Planter Garden

Do you have used, empty filament spool lying around? Are you craving fresh salads and vegetables while cooped up at home? 3D print this filament spool planter, which converts your used filament spools into elegant vessels to grow vegetables, herbs, microgreens, and flowers; both indoors and outdoors. Stack, personalize, hang, and combine these planters however you like!

Print instructions

Files to Print:

• "spool-planter-v4" is the curved part that attaches around the spool and converts it into a planter/holds in the dirt. Print three of these for one complete spool planter. If you use the pre-sliced .gcode, that already includes three on one build plate.
• "spool-connector-1, 2, and 3" are various inserts that fit in the center of the spool and allow you to join spools together, or close off the center of a spool to plant in the middle.
• "spool-hanger" is an attachment that slides over the side of a spool so you can hang it with strings on a porch or balcony. Print four if you intend to hang your spool.

Print Settings:

• Orientation: Models should already be oriented correctly, but for the "spool-planter-v4" it is important that the small flat area underneath the slits lies flat on the build plate.
• Material: PLA is recommended since it is non-toxic.
• Supports: Supports are required on "spool-planter-v4" inside the slit which slides onto the spool. They are not needed to support the curved wall.
• Layer Height/Infill/Speed: Can print quickly with large layer height and around 20% infill.

Post Printing/Assembly:

1. Remove any supports from the parts.
2. Gather the three "spool-planter-v4" models, and slip the openings/slits on each of the parts onto the sides of your filament spool (it should pressure fit - no glue required).
3. As you put on the three parts to complete the circle, make sure to interlock the parts by aligning and pushing together the small pegs on one part with the holes on the other.
4. (Optional) Pressure fit the "spool-connector-1/2/3" models into the center of the spool to attach spools together and plant in the center, or slip the "spool-hanger" parts onto the walls of the spool and tie on strings to hang your spool outside.

Gardening:

• The easiest plants to grow in these spool planters are microgreens -- baby spinach, cilantro, chard, arugula, amaranth, and pea tendrils all work great! You can also grow herbs (chives, oregano, basil), or flowers and other plants such as aloe vera.
• Make sure to water regularly, but be careful not to overwater, since there are no drainage holes. Or, make a remix with drainage holes? :)

Compatibility:

• These parts are tested to work with Hatchbox Filament spools. They should work with other brands as well, but if not, I've attached the parametric Fusion 360 model files so you can remix and customize to your needs. By navigating to Modify > Change Parameters, you can modify the diameter of your spool ("spool_diameter") and the thickness of the spool walls ("spool_wall_thickness").

Change Log:

• 4/17/20: Initial Release
• 4/18/20: Fixed spool diameter/sizing issues where the walls weren't forming a full circle, switched to two interlocking pegs instead of three, modified peg/hole size, modified overlap length, refined the walls to make them thinner, cleaned up the design in Fusion 360 and made it completely parametric.