3D Printed Flowepots

This is guide on how I made these flowerpots using FreeCAD and Ultimaker Cura. These flowerpots can be made to suite any dimesions and are very customizable. This guide is meant to show you how to make your own flowerpot in FreeCAD, or you can print one through your 3D printer just by downloading the given STL files. This is a good idea for people who are looking to make a flowerpot to fit specific dimensions or shapes and do not want to spend money to buy one.

1. ELEGOO Neptune 3 Pro (or any other filament 3D printer)
2. PLA Filament
3. Computer
4. FreeCAD
5. Ultimaker Cura
6. Thumb Drive

Install FreeCAD and Cura from the links provided below. You will need to make an account to use the applications. There will also be a prompt from FreeCAD that will allow you to pick your units (Metric, US customary, etc.).

https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura/

https://www.freecad.org/

Firstly, this pot is made using TinkerCAD settings so make sure you have that on. There will be an option in the bottom right if you had selected different settings previously. Once that is completed, you want to make a new file by selecting Parametric Part in the menu.

Firstly, click create body in the top left of the screen. It is located on the tasks bar. Then click create sketch, and double click on the xy axis.

Select the shape you want in the top row. You can choose any, and the process will remain the same. In the example, I use a circle, but you can choose a polygon with any number of sides. Choose your radius and your orientation angle (only if using polygon).

Now, close the tasks bar and click the Pad icon right after. Altering the length will let you add height and make a cylinder or 3D shape.

Close the tasks bar from the previous step. Now, click on the top of the cylinder and create a new sketch. Add a circle or whichever shape that you are using to the center of the top of the pot and use a slightly smaller diameter. This will be your inner diameter. Then close the tasks bar and immediately click the Pocket icon. This will let you set your depth for your pot. You want to make the depth slightly shorter than your height. In the example, I made it 2.8" which is slightly too large in my opinion, but it depends on how big you want your edges.

This step is optional depending on if you are placing the pot outside or inside. Click on the bottom orientation of the pot and create a much smaller circle/polygon. I made mine have 0.25" diameter. Close the tasks bar then click the Pocket Icon. This will make the hole at the bottom, so I suggest selecting a massive height to ensure it goes all the way through. I selected 3" which is more than enough.

You can add extra detail to your edges by using Fillet or Chamfer icons. Simply click on the edges then click Fillet or Chamfer. This can be used to make the edges smoother or sharper.

The pot is complete. Convert it to an STL file by double clicking the pot then clicking file then export. Select the file to be a STL Mesh and save it onto your computer. If you don't want to make your own pot through CAD software, you can also download pots from Thingiverse or similar sites. I printed some from the link below, and I also included two files of ones that I made myself.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4591435

Since you already have Cura set up, you can double click on the file, and it will automatically open in Cura. You can change the scale, placement, and orientation of the part in Cura if you want. Once are satisfied, download the part to a thumb drive attached to your computer.

Finally, print the pot using your 3D printer. The print may take many hours depending on the dimensions of the pot. Once the print is finished, you have made your flowerpot. (In the pictures, I included the flowerpots I made from CAD and the Thingiverse link.)