The Babylon Hanging Basket (Planter) and Bird feeder - Modular

The Babylon Hanging Basket

Us Brits call them hanging baskets but I think they're better known as hanging planters in the rest of the world, anyway….. 

I wanted to design something that could be modular in design and therefore fit many different use cases.  I selected a hexagonal/honeycomb design as it's a great functional shape but also very aesthetically pleasing.  As in the name it also draws inspiration from one of the wonders of the world, showcasing the best of nature.  

I had in mind that it should be flexible, such that you could have simple planters or create complex designs on multiple levels.  They could even cascade down in a spiral shape.  

In order to allow this flexibility I designed the planters to have two integrated slots on each face.  This lends the design perfectly to 3D printing.  The slots have a corresponding connector.  The connectors simply slide in, locking pods together once hung.

There is scope for new connectors to be designed providing new configurations and use cases. I have provided a drawing showing the key connector dimensions.  

I've designed connectors allowing the planters to be joined at a variety of levels as well as fixing brackets to hang them by.

There are good reasons for having ‘pods’ rather than a single hanging planter.  You can provide  optimal conditions in each hex pod such that the plants can thrive.  In a conventional planter the plants are all competing to be seen as most likely it's a single level.  With this approach you can work with multiple levels, inverting the hanging connectors allows a further level to be hung below the main one.  You can even connect the pods in a row for a window box or balcony planter.

I've created three different pod designs but I'm sure the community can come up with more. There's a full height, half height and low height.  I've design a bird feeder add on for the the low height pod.  Each pod has integrated drainage.

All components except the connectors can be printed without supports.  The connectors require minimal support but should be printed flat to the bed in order to maximise strength in the Z direction. 
The bird feeder base is attached using m3 screws. Self tapped in to the pod 

How I designed this

I designed this in Solid Edge.  

There were several test prints until I settled on the design for my pods and connectors.  

Print Guidance

Pods and bird feeder add-ons were printed at 0.3mm layers with 15% infil.  2 can fit on a MK3 build plate approx 24h to print.

The connectors were printed 0.2mm layers, 3 perimeters with supports.