markde2e Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Hello, I'm Mark from the Netherlands and a have a lot of Cephalotus leaf cuttings and not enough space So I decided to design a spiral plant container! I designed this with Inventor (a 3D drawing program). I sent the model to shapeways.com and let it print out in 3D. Overall wall thickness = 0.5mm. Height = 386mm Diameter = Ø190mm This had just gone well, as it turned out 0.7mm wall thickness is actually the minimum allowable size to be... Despite the thin wall thickness, it is relatively rigid. But I want the thing to put in polyester resin and hope that it will be a lot stronger (and smoother). I had deliberately kept this minimum thickness because you paid for the volume and otherwise is became very expensive. The thing weighs only 120 grams: wink: Here some pictures of how i recieved the model: Update with the (15)plants in it Now its (finally) in the polyester resin and feels a lot stronger! Regards, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 A very nice design and should look spectacular when the Cephalotus fill out I dread to think how much the 3D resin model cost though. Last time I used this technology, which admittedly was a number of years ago, it was very expensive. You're clearly an Engineer, judging by the turned stainless steel 'planter' in one of the pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linuxman Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Looks really impressive, but how do you water it and keep all the compost damp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel G Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Wow! Looks great! You might want to make a business out of this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheInactiveMoth Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 That's really clever! You should experiment with the design and see what else looks good.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Cornish Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 A multi-storey carpark for Cephs! Hope it works out for you and keep us updated. Regards Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadja77 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 That is a fantastic planter! Love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satsvear Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Beautiful! Like someone sad, you should do more and sell them. I don´t see why you can´t do the same with drosera or vft. Well Met! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amar Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Looks very nice indeed. And the tray method works? The substrate on the top gets moist this way, or must you also water from above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevyn chan Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 hmm....judging from the holes on the container...i guess it works on Capillary and gravitational action right? you have filled the main tube with planting media from the bottom right up to the top...do you need to fill the water tray very often? please let us know more about the results of your creation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m.a.x Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 hahaha, very stunning!! I looks very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadly Weapon Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 I would buy few of those for a reasonable price. Can just imagine growing Pinguicula in that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markde2e Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) Hello, Thank's for the reply's! This model is just a prototype and pure for the hobby. But who know's, if this method will work well then maybe i can sell the model via shapeways.com. But then a 'thicker' model, that don't need a layer of polyester resign. Unfortunately that will cost a lot of money. So don't now if anyone wan't to buy this..... But it seems that the lower part of the container, stays wetter then the upper part... I yet can not tell if it works properly, beqause the first few weeks i will water the plants from the top also; so they can adjust from the transplant.. A very nice design and should look spectacular when the Cephalotus fill out I dread to think how much the 3D resin model cost though. Last time I used this technology, which admittedly was a number of years ago, it was very expensive. You're clearly an Engineer, judging by the turned stainless steel 'planter' in one of the pictures. Indeed, it's still not cheap, that's why i designed it as thin as possible! And yes i'm a cnc turner! Ps. I'll post an update once I know more.. Edited September 24, 2011 by markde2e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadly Weapon Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 How much does one spiral plant container cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markde2e Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 How much does one spiral plant container cost? Hello, As soon as i have some spare time, i will design a slightly thicker (and a little modified) model, that you not have to put in polyester for more strength... Then i will send this to shapeways and then i know the exact costs, and put it it the shapeways shop so that people can buy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxxima Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Hello! Good idea and congratulations on actually doing it! Most of my plans remain as...just plans Honestly, I am thinking the current spiral design is too distracting and the white color adds to that as well. While cephalotus is a very attractive plant and there are 15 of them there, they didn't grab my attention at all. Maybe hide the design partly by LFS or just pick a different color? I dunno, just some ideas of mine. Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos 767 Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 Amazing job! It looks really nice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wadave Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 That looks fantastic and once you have mature plants spilling over the sides and down the spiral it will look mezmerising. Have you thought about a design similar to a strawberry pot where the plants have their own little "balconies" and the center of the pot contains the soil so overhead watering gives all the plants an even amount of water? As technology becomes more mainstream and the printing of objects becomes more easily available to everyone this type of "designer" pot will become cheap and easily available I'm sure growing cephs this way will become easy for the average grower as pot designs are easier and cheaper to create. I find that hand watering my cephs overhead in a pot which allows the water to flow through the pot gives my cephs a chance to grow well with plenty of water and oxygen flowing past their roots. This year I have at least 15-20 seedlings poping up and I currently have around 15 flower spikes coming up in our Australian spring with more flower spikes emerging all the time so every year I look forward to experimenting with conditions to see what is most favourable for my ceph growing. Good luck with your designs and I look forward to reading your next report on how your early desing is progressing. Kind regards, Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flytyer Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 Can you imagine a black version with 15 Eden Blacks in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadly Weapon Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Maybe not black. Black version would become too hot in sunlight and heat the roots too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markde2e Posted November 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 (edited) Thank's for the replies! :-) That looks fantastic and once you have mature plants spilling over the sides and down the spiral it will look mezmerising. Have you thought about a design similar to a strawberry pot where the plants have their own little "balconies" and the center of the pot contains the soil so overhead watering gives all the plants an even amount of water? As technology becomes more mainstream and the printing of objects becomes more easily available to everyone this type of "designer" pot will become cheap and easily available I'm sure growing cephs this way will become easy for the average grower as pot designs are easier and cheaper to create. I find that hand watering my cephs overhead in a pot which allows the water to flow through the pot gives my cephs a chance to grow well with plenty of water and oxygen flowing past their roots. This year I have at least 15-20 seedlings poping up and I currently have around 15 flower spikes coming up in our Australian spring with more flower spikes emerging all the time so every year I look forward to experimenting with conditions to see what is most favourable for my ceph growing. Good luck with your designs and I look forward to reading your next report on how your early desing is progressing. Kind regards, Dave. Hello Dave, That's a great idea! Maybe i will incorperate this in the next design... Hello! Good idea and congratulations on actually doing it! Most of my plans remain as...just plans Honestly, I am thinking the current spiral design is too distracting and the white color adds to that as well. While cephalotus is a very attractive plant and there are 15 of them there, they didn't grab my attention at all. Maybe hide the design partly by LFS or just pick a different color? I dunno, just some ideas of mine. Thanks for sharing! When printing this size only the white colour is available, at the moment... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I designed a new and fully improved version 2.0 of the plant container for sale! It's not cheap, and i think that for many people its just too expensive.. But who knows, maybe i will get allot cheaper in the future just as Dave mentioned! Improvements: -This container is designed for top-watering, by a funnel at the top in the centertube. The water is than running down de spiral trough the substrate and at the end it flows back in de centertube. Then it leaks out in the saucer. The excess water in the saucer will be sucked up by capillary action by the downtube under the spiral. With model version 1.0, my intentention was that by capillary action is that you don't have to top-water the container.. But experience shows that the lower part stays significantly wetter than the upper part. So this model wil fix that problem -The model has a built-on saucer -This model is more than twice as strong than model 1.0 The minimum wall thickness is 1.0mm instead of 0.5. Also the built-on sqaure saucer ads allot of extra strength in de botom and the two extra pilars under the spiral ads allot of stiffness the the container. You don't have to paint it with polyester resign beqause its strong enough Here you can buy the model: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/marksdesigns Picture: Greetings, Mark Edited November 27, 2011 by markde2e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodaciousbonsai Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) I Want one!!! As long as the price is not to crazy. I think it looks great! Yep way out of my league! I work at a blow molding Plastic company here in NY. And I know for a fact that our engineer could get the mold custom made. If you used 50/100 h.d.p.e you could bring the price way down. and also get it in any colour you wish. Plus if you had the UV additive to the plastic it would last for many many years. Check out ConferPlastics.com. this is where I work as a Machine operator. Dave lipnarski is our engineer and he is very intelligent. A mold could make many millions of these. There would be a hole somewhere in the product but that's what plugs are for. we specialize in custom products Edited December 10, 2011 by bodaciousbonsai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markde2e Posted December 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 I Want one!!! As long as the price is not to crazy. I think it looks great! Yep way out of my league! I work at a blow molding Plastic company here in NY. And I know for a fact that our engineer could get the mold custom made. If you used 50/100 h.d.p.e you could bring the price way down. and also get it in any colour you wish. Plus if you had the UV additive to the plastic it would last for many many years. Check out ConferPlastics.com. this is where I work as a Machine operator. Dave lipnarski is our engineer and he is very intelligent. A mold could make many millions of these. There would be a hole somewhere in the product but that's what plugs are for. we specialize in custom products Hello, Thank wou for your reply! But i think its just not possible to mold this model! Regards, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Hello, Thank wou for your reply! But i think its just not possible to mold this model! Regards, Mark It would certainly challenge the tool maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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