I principally printed drone components in my final filament evaluations, so I made a decision to attempt one thing else this time. Utilizing Elegoo PLA filament, I printed a vertical modular hydroponic tower system for vegetation. My spouse was comfortable to seek out out that she would at all times have contemporary herbs at residence.
Hydroponic tower gardens have gotten fashionable, particularly amongst city gardeners, because of the system’s effectivity and small gardening areas. Whereas a ready-to-use system prices 500-1,000 {dollars}, a DIY 3D-printed hydroponic system will be made for means much less. Relying on what number of vegetation you need to develop in a single tower, the mission requires 2-5kg of filament. One spool of ELEGOO PLA prices solely $13.99 throughout the spring sale. In addition to the 3D-printed components, you will want a small DC water pump, a programmable timer, a 30-50L water reservoir, and some different equipment that ought to not value greater than $150.
Because of their low weight and compact measurement, 3D-printed hydroponic towers are simple to maneuver outside for the summer time and inside for the winter. In concept, PLA filaments aren’t UV-resistive, so should you use them completely outside, it is best to think about using some form of UV coating spray or PETG filament appropriate for out of doors use. Additionally, white filaments are the wisest selection for use below direct daylight (objects printed with PLA can deform because of excessive temperatures).
Elegoo PLA filament evaluate
Disclosure: I obtained these two PLA filaments as a part of a product evaluate collaboration with ELEGOO. Product specs and high quality could range in line with the producer’s reliability, so I can’t assure that you’ll get the fabric that performs the identical as seen in my article.
Final month Elegoo despatched me two spools of their PLA filaments (white and gray). Each filaments had been packed in the identical kind of recycled cardboard field. Elegoo additionally opted for environment-friendly cardboard spoolers. Correctly, the filaments had been in hermetic vacuum luggage with small silica gel sachets inside. Printing nozzle temperature, coloration, and manufacturing batch identification are labeled on the bobbin. The spool has scaled home windows displaying the approximative remaining filament in grams -an ingenious function I didn’t see earlier than. An unopened spool weighs 1182 grams.
The diameter tolerance of the filaments is +/- 0.02 mm. Throughout my assessments, I had no problem with spool tangling or unwinding. I used a 215℃ nozzle and a 60℃ mattress temperature.
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the preferred and widespread filament utilized in FDM 3D printing. It’s inexpensive, simple to print, and, extra importantly, secure (made out of pure supplies resembling corn, sugar cane, sugar beet, or potatoes). PLA can be thought-about compostable and recyclable. PLA has a comparatively low printing temperature in comparison with different thermoplastics (resembling ABS), so it may be used with most FDM machines. PLA prints will be simply post-processed (polished and painted), permitting for an improved floor end with no effort.
PLA absorbs water rapidly, which means it may possibly turn into brittle over time if saved in a damp surroundings. To keep away from this, it is best to preserve the spool within the unique bundle for the long run.
Utilizing 1kg of Elegoo PLA filament, you’ll be able to print three 4-way plating modules and a 10cm spacer or about twenty web pots.
Elegoo PLA: Key options
- [High-Quality PLA Filaments] Fabricated from high-quality PLA, a generally used thermoplastic materials options decrease melting temperature and ease of use, low warp and shrinkage, is odorless throughout printing, and supplies a shiny floor end.
- [Dimensional Accuracy & Consistency] Strict tolerances assure these PLA filaments of 1.75 mm diameter a lot smoother and extra steady printing with the dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02 mm; 1 kg spool (2.2lbs).
- [Less-tangle and Easy to Use]Full mechanical winding and strict handbook examination to make sure that the road is neatly organized and fewer tangled and to keep away from attainable snap and line breaking. A bigger spool interior diameter design for simple feeding.
- [Clog-Free & Bubble-Free] Designed and manufactured with clog-free, very good layer bonding and nice fluidity for clean and steady extrusion. Full dried for twenty-four hours earlier than packaging and vacuum sealed with desiccants within the bag to guard the filament from moisture, with no clogging and effervescent issues.
- [Wide Compatibility] Common compatibility with many of the widespread 1.75mm FDM 3D printers in the marketplace because of the high-quality requirements when it comes to manufacturing accuracy and a small dimensional tolerance of +/- 0.02mm.
Elegoo PLA: Technical specs
| Mechanical proprieties | |
| Dimensional Accuracy | +/- 0.02mm |
| Density | 1.24 (g/cm3 at 21.5˚C) |
| Tensile Energy | 44.2 ± 1.3 (MPa) |
| Elongation at Break | 2.0 ± 0.4 (%) |
| Bending modulus | 3100 ± 220 (MPa) |
| Bending power | 84.1 ± 2.2 (MPa) |
| Charpy impression power | 2.8 ± 0.21 (kJ/m2) |
| 3D printing parameters | |
| Extruder Temperature | 205℃ – 220℃ Beneficial temperature：215℃ |
| Mattress temperature | 40℃ |
| Fan velocity | 100% |
| Printing velocity | 30~100 mm/s |
| Layer thickness | 0.1-0.2mm |
| Beneficial construct surfaces | Masking paper, PVP stable glue, PEI |
Pricing, availability, and coloration/bundle choices
Once I revealed my evaluate, the Elegoo PLA filament was accessible for $13.99/kg with seven coloration choices (black, white, gray, inexperienced, blue, purple, yellow, orange, and silver). Ten black spools can be found for less than $99.99 ($9.99/spool). A pack of ten spools with 4 colours (6x black, 2x blue, 2x purple, and 2x white) will be ordered for $109.99. Elegoo ships their PLA filaments from US West, US East, CA, UK, JP, AU, and EU warehouses.
3D printed Hydroponic Tower Backyard utilizing Elegoo PLA filament
From the various modular hydroponic tower initiatives accessible on thingiverse.com, I opted for the one designed and shared by Daniel Laszlo. His mission appeared to be straight to the purpose, simple to print and well-documented. The primary design was revealed in 2019 and has obtained greater than fifteenth updates since then.
The mission contains 1-5 means planting modules and three sizes of spacers (40m, 80, and 120mm) so you’ll be able to customise your tower simply. You’ll be able to freely combine planting modules with totally different numbers of pots and spacers. To check the Elegoo PLA filaments, I printed 4-way plating modules (3 in grey and three in white), and 40mm/ 80mm spacers. For the golden pots, I used PLA+ filament from a special model.
I opted for a 5w submersible 12 DC water pump with a movement price of 200l per hour. To avoid wasting power and add some resting time for the pump is advisable to make use of a programmable time. You should use WiFi programmable time for distant management. My present schedule is 10 minutes ON and half-hour OFF. You’ll be able to check different mixtures in case your vegetation don’t develop effectively.
Benefits of the 3D printed modular Hydroponic system
- Modular construction, simply scalable, put modules collectively, twist & lock, accomplished
- Module adapter to be glued into water tank’s lid
- Filling module with cap
- 1/2/3/4/5-way planting modules (hole model advisable)
- Spacer modules (elective)
- Inside/exterior water dispenser modules
- Cone module for exterior water circulation methods
- Lid
- Customized web pot for Jiffy-7 41 mm develop medium (dry pressed dimensions: diameter 37 mm, thickness: 7.5 mm)
- Customized web pot with 48 mm inside diameter for different develop medium (Rockwool + clay pebbles)
- M3 screw factors on planting modules for plant tagging and normal fixture functions
- Nearly any form of water pump works with this method
- 2″ web pots match into planting ports
Printing suggestions from the mission designer
- 0.3 mm layer
- 3 wall rely (0.4 mm nozzle = 1.2 mm)
- 15% infill
- 40 mm/s or extra printing velocity
- no help
- 210×210 mm printing space required
- Use extensive brims every time the floor touching the mattress is small (filling module, hole planting modules)
Printing instances and filament requirement
Be aware that printing time is calculated utilizing normal Neptune 3 Plus with normal velocity settings and 20% infill. Within the case of primary fashions such because the area modules, you’ll be able to velocity up issues by 200-400%.
| Print time | Filament utilization | Items required | |
| 4-Method planting module | 27h | 226 grams | 6 |
| 80mm spacer module | 14h | 115 grams | 4 |
| 30mm spacer module | 8h | 68 grams | 2 |
| Lid with holes | 11h | 95 grams | 1 |
| Water dispenser | 12h | 102 grams | 1 |
| Water tank adapter | 4h | 35 grams | 1 |
| Plant pots | 7h | 50 grams | 24 |
| Whole | 18 days | 3.5kg |
Estimated price range
| 4 spools of Elegoo PLA filament | $13.99x4kg=$56 |
| Power used throughout printing | $0.168*(0.3kW/h*18*24)~$22 |
| DC water pump | $15 |
| 12V timer and 12V AC/DC adapter | $15 |
| Nutrient water reservoir (30-50l) | $20 |
| Versatile Mushy Silicone Hose Tube 19mm | 2mx2$=$5 |
| Liquid fertilizer 1l | $9 |
| Whole value | $142 |
What sort of vegetation are you able to develop in a hydroponic system?
Though nearly any plant will be grown hydroponically, the commonest are leaf lettuce, spinach, watercress, tomatoes, sizzling peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, watercress, celery, and a few herbs (Basil, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, and extra). When organising the hydroponic tower, it is best to use vegetation with comparable PH and nutrient necessities. Additionally, rigorously wash the soil from the roots earlier than transplanting them into your hydroponic system.
