A Growing Support for Your Growing Plants!

This is my submission for the 'Plant Climbers & Supports' contest here on Printables. It is a modular toy-like Trellis reminiscent of a plant. The design allows for natural expansion, mirroring the angles at which real plants grow. It's compatible with 0.5-inch dowels, readily available at any hardware store. The set includes diverse connectors with even more designs in the pipeline. There is a 120-degree connector in case you want to make a hexagon lattice for example. As a starting point, I've provided the .f3d file for the basic flower and cap connector for those keen on furthering this open-source plant support. I will take reasonable requests as well.

My inspiration was sparked when observing other contest entries. Many were restricted by printer dimensions. However, I observed that many of my plants outgrew these dimensions and demanded sturdier support. Understanding that plants march to their own rhythm, I envisioned a design evolving at their pace.

My journey commenced with an illustrative sketch. Gradually, my attention shifted to the connector's modeling. After approximately five iterations, I discerned that a 6-point drafted star bite was ideal. This allows for the consistent insertion and removal of dowels sans the hassle of screws or adhesive. The design curtails prevent rotation as well. An interesting challenge was the inherent inconsistency of wood dowels, given their natural origin. Should a dowel loosen over time, simply push deeper for a tighter grip. Furthermore, its orientation is adjustable to suit your needs. For those in Europe or regions with metric dowels, I've yet to test them. However, you might consider resizing these to accommodate a 15mm dowel if accessible. Lastly, while every component is printable without any supports, there may be scenarios where dividing them or utilizing supports proves beneficial.

Enjoy your gardening journey, and may this support be a delightful companion!

-Max, Industrial Designer