Detailed Description

This planter box is designed so you can swap in different growing trays, use different heights of grow light (or none), and enclose the plants with optional greenhouse covers. 

These “Growing Trays” are just interchangeable inserts that allow you to grow your plants in different ways. As of now I have made a self-watering growing tray, and have plans for a hydroponics tray, smart tray (internet connected with sensors), seed starting tray (with compatibility for my “Parametric Seed Starting Pots” that I created), and microgreens tray. The possibilities are endless with this interchangeable system and I would really like to see what others may come up with for growing tray options.

There is also support for a grow light, and there is a “Full Height” and “Half Height” version (~200 and ~100 mm respectively.) You can just use grow lights in an LED strip format.

As for the greenhouse covers, they allow you to fully enclose the plants and create a mini greenhouse. I designed them with PVB in mind so you can easily smooth it to get a very transparent cover and still be able to see your plants.

Most of these parts are pretty big, so they were designed to fit on a Prusa i3 MK3, but I hope to make a version that will fit the Prusa MINI's print bed.

There are also pre-sliced gcodes for a MK3S/S+ available. 

All parts are push to fit, no screws or glue required. Very few supports are needed to print these as well.

I also have made the Fusion 360 design file available. The model is partially parametrized, so you should have a decent time modifying it if you wish.

Parts

You will need to print these parts to get started:

• Reservoir_Base
• Reservoir

Optionally you can also print the Light_Support_Cap if you don't plan to use a grow light

Full Height Grow Light Option

For the full height grow light, you will need to print: 

• Full_Height_Grow_Light_Support
• Full_Height_Grow_Light_Support_Peg
• Grow_Light_Support

Half Height Grow Light Option

For the half height grow light, you will need to print: 

• Half_Height_Grow_Light_Support
• Half_Height_Grow_Light_Support_Peg

Greenhouse Covers

These are a way to fully enclose your plants and make a mini-greenhouse. Depending on what grow light heights you may be using (or none) you need different greenhouse covers. If you are using the full or half height light support you need the Full_Height_Greenhouse_Cover or Half_Height_Greenhouse_Cover, respectively. If you aren't using a grow light you can use the Half_Height_Greehouse_Lid or Quarter_Height_Greenhouse_Lid, depending on what height you would like. 

Growing Trays

Print all files in the folder for the respective tray.

Print Instructions

For all of these big parts that span the build area, I would recommend to raise the bed temperature by 5-10c to prevent warping

Reservoir_Base

Material: PLA (Anything works though)

Layer Height: 0.2mm

Infill: 5%

Detect Thin Walls: Enabled

Avoid Crossing Perimeters: Enabled

External Perimeters First: True

Reservoir

Material: PETG (Higher layer adhesion to make it watertight)

Layer Height: 0.15mm

Infill: 5%

Perimeters: 4     NOTE:  This is only needed for the inside of the reservoir. I used a modifier mesh to set only the inside of the model to 4 perimeters to save material.

Avoid Crossing Perimeters: Enabled

Detect Thin Walls: Enabled 

External Perimeters First: True 

Brim Width: 5mm

Generate Support On Build Plate Only: Enabled

Full_Height_Grow_Light_Support, Full_Height_Grow_Light_Support_Peg, Half_Height_Grow_Light_Support_Peg

Material: PLA (Anything works though)

Layer Height: 0.2mm

Infill: 5%

Avoid Crossing Perimeters: Enabled

Detect Thin Walls: Enabled

External Perimeters First: True

Generate Support On Build Plate Only: Enabled

Optional: Brim: 5mm

Grow_Light_Support, Half_Height_Grow_Light_Support

Material: PETG (Needs some heat resistance for the grow lights)

Layer Height: 0.2mm

Infill: 5%

Avoid Crossing Perimeters: Enabled

Detect Thin Walls: Enabled

External Perimeters First: True

Generate Support On Build Plate Only: Enabled

Full_Height_Greenhouse_Cover, Half_Height_Greenhouse_Cover

Material: PVB (For transparency)

Layer Height: 0.3mm

Infill: 100%

Avoid Crossing Perimeters: Enabled

Detect Thin Walls: Enabled

External Perimeters First: True

Raise Extrusion Multiplier by 5-10%

Post Process with IPA to achieve highest transparency

Half_Height_Greenhouse_Lid, Quarter_Height_Greenhouse_Lid

Material: PVB (For transparency)

Vase Mode: Enabled

Bottom Solid Layers: 2

Layer Height: As high as possible

Raise Extrusion Multiplier by 5-10% 

Brim Width: 5mm

Use a bigger nozzle for optimal results, but 0.4mm will work OK 

Post Process with IPA to achieve highest transparency

Self Watering Tray (All Parts)

Material: PLA (Anything works though)

Layer Height: 0.2mm

Infill: 5%

Avoid Crossing Perimeters: Enabled

Detect Thin Walls: Enabled

External Perimeters First: True

Generate Support Material On Build Plate Only: Enabled