This project give instructions for creating a 3D model of an artistic plant pot. Exact dimensions might be found in some of the pictures, but plan to experiment to get the look you like best. This design has tubes extending from the inside rim of the pot to the bottom to give a water/air path to help keep the roots of the plant moist but not drowned.

Step 1: Create a Sketch

Using 3d CAD software, create a sketch for one half of the basic cross-sectional shape for the pot. My sketch is for a pot to be printed on a 3D printer that has build volume of 8" x 8" x 8". The wall thickness is 2 mm. Scaling down to 75% will allow this model to be printed on a Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printer.

Step 2: Create a Revolve

I next revolved the area in the sketch about the Z axis to create the basic shape of the pot.

Step 3: Create Rounded Rim Edge

I then added fillets to the inside and outside edges of the rim. The radius of each fillet is 1/2 of the wall thickness, giving a round edge to the rim.

Step 4: Create a Second Sketch

Next, create a second sketch, which will be used to generate the next feature. The sketch also contains the axis of rotation for the spiral. Note: Since the next feature is a rather steep spiral, the ellipse shape was used to give a better shape for the spiral feature.

Step 5: Create the Solid Spiral Feature

Next, create the solid spiral feature by extending a spiral from the sketch. If the spiral does not extend fully into the inside volume of the pot, extend a second spiral inward to clear the inside pot wall. Note: A wire frame view is included to show both ends of the spiral feature.

Step 6: Make the Spiral Feature Hollow

Make the spiral feature hollow. This can be done by extending a cut spiral from the second sketch (share the sketch), or create a new sketch on the end of the solid spiral. Again, a wire frame view has been included to show the inside wall of this "tube" feature.

Step 7: Add Fillets to the Tube Feature

Add fillets to the ends of the tube feature. Note: The fillets on the outside of the pot have a larger radius for looks and to give extra mechanical strength to the tube feature.

Step 8: Create a Circular Pattern

Complete the design by creating a circular patter of the solid and cut spirals and the the associated fillets. This model uses 16 total tube features in the circular pattern. This model is now ready for saving as an STL file and sliced for printing.

Introduction: Artist Plant Pot