Modular Desktop Fountain On Steroids

This modular fountain combines the best of all worlds. It has a thicker base to prevent leaking and modified components to incorporate clean cable management. It is powered by an external controller that allows precision controls of all the features of the fountain (Pump, Fog, LEDs). While the rest of the print is identical so I would be describing the major features and changes only.

The Making : https://imgur.com/a/JTFbrnN

Components :

• 5V DC pump
• 5B waterproof string LEDs
• 5V ultrasonic mist maker module
• Momentary switch - x1
• Non-momentary switch - x2
• Potentiometer (1K) - x1
• 5V AC-DC converter - x2
• 12V AC-DC converter - x1
• 5V or 12V cooling fan (40mm) - x1 (Optional)
• 6-core cable
• AC cord

Print Settings (Except Base) : 

• Nozzle temp : 220°C
• Bed temp : 50°C
• Infill : 20 - 30%

Base :

Needless to say, that base is a very essential component of this print and the major issue among folks is that it leaks. Here are the steps that you can follow to fix the issue :

• Increase the bottom thickness of the base by 1mm
• Print at 220°C (For PLA). Since this print has to deal with water flow continuously I have printed all my components at 220°C
• Set the infill to 100%. This is very important for base printing. No matter what you do if there is any gap between layers the water is gonna find its way through.

Controller :

This is my favourite part of the build, cause no matter how beautiful your print is, the hanging wires ruin it all. Also, I wanted to have precision control of all the electronic features that I am gonna be integrating into this print. The controller has the following features :

• Toggle LED string
• Toggle mist controller
• Toggle pump
• Control pump speed

To get started you need a plastic box to incorporate all the electronics. I picked one from a nearby electrical store (since it's cheaper and faster than printing). To supply the power to the pump you need at least 6-core cable, 2 for each component (I repurposed an old VGA cable). Then simply place and hot glue all the AC-DC converters and mist controller inside the box and solder them all together. 

To toggle the mist controller, solder your momentary switch with the solder joints of the controller momentary switch. Then connect the output for the piezo buzzer to the 6-core cable. Finally, solder the positive and negative terminals of the controller with the output of one of the 5V converters.

To toggle the string LEDs simply use one of the 5V converters and a non-momentary switch.

For the pump, I used a 12V converter because the 5V was not performing well enough. So connecting the 12V output with a potentiometer gives amazing results and offers finer controls. Also if I have to replace the current 5V pump with a 12V, that won't be a problem. The connection for the pump is straightforward. Route the positive end through a non-momentary switch and then through the potentiometer and finally pass both the terminals to the 6-core cable.

Also, if you find that the controller box is getting hot, adding a cooling fan would help.

Here  I used separate converters instead of choosing a large value power supply and then using buck converters to supply the required power to each component, is that a high amp rating power supply is very pricy, whereas buying these converters individually is dirt cheap.

Finally, tuck in all the wires and close the lid and voila, your controller is ready.
 

Fountain Connection :

Before connecting the other end of the 6-core cable to the fountain make sure that all the cables are providing proper output, using a multimeter. Once checked, solder and settle all the cables in with heat shrinks and hot glue and just enjoy the mystical beauty of the fountain.