Heavy-duty, structurally-optimized plant pot risers designed for 3D printing. These risers elevate cache pots to improve drainage and prevent water damage to surfaces.

• Parametric Design: Fully customizable height and diameter
• Structural Optimization: Engineered for heavy loads (wet soil can weigh 1.6-2.1 kg/L)
• Print-Optimized: Designed to print upside-down without supports
• Mesh Support System: Complete bottom support with hexagonal or triangular drainage mesh
• Two Mesh Patterns: Hexagonal (material efficient) or Triangular (maximum strength)
• Load-Tested: Includes safety calculations for different pot sizes

• OpenSCAD (for generating custom sizes)
• 3D printer with build volume matching your desired riser size
• PLA or PETG filament (PETG recommended for outdoor use)

1. Open riser_generator.scad in OpenSCAD

2. Use the Customizer panel (Window → Customizer) to adjust:

   • height: Height of the riser (25-200mm)
   • diameter: Base diameter (50-400mm)
   • mesh_pattern: Choose "hexagonal" or "triangular"
   • mesh_cell_size: Size of mesh cells (10-40mm)
   • Advanced parameters for fine-tuning

3. Press F5 to preview, F6 to render

4. Export as STL (File → Export → STL)

# Generate all example STL files
make all

# Generate only hexagonal mesh examples
make hexagonal

# Generate only triangular mesh examples  
make triangular

# Generate specific sizes
make small    # Both patterns, 100mm diameter
make medium   # Both patterns, 200mm diameter
make large    # Both patterns, 300mm diameter

# See all available targets
make help

# Small hexagonal riser (100mm diameter, 50mm height)
openscad -o my_riser.stl -D "height=50" -D "diameter=100" -D "mesh_pattern=\"hexagonal\"" -D "mesh_cell_size=15" riser_generator.scad

# Medium triangular riser (200mm diameter, 75mm height)
openscad -o my_riser.stl -D "height=75" -D "diameter=200" -D "mesh_pattern=\"triangular\"" -D "mesh_cell_size=18" riser_generator.scad

# Large hexagonal riser with 8 ribs (300mm diameter, 100mm height)
openscad -o my_riser.stl -D "height=100" -D "diameter=300" -D "mesh_pattern=\"hexagonal\"" -D "mesh_cell_size=25" -D "rib_count=8" riser_generator.scad

The examples/ directory contains ready-to-print STL files:

Hexagonal Mesh (Material Efficient):

• hex_small_100mm_50mm.stl - For pots up to 100mm diameter
• hex_medium_200mm_75mm.stl - For pots up to 200mm diameter
• hex_large_300mm_100mm.stl - For pots up to 300mm diameter

Triangular Mesh (Maximum Strength):

• tri_small_100mm_50mm.stl - For pots up to 100mm diameter
• tri_medium_200mm_75mm.stl - For pots up to 200mm diameter
• tri_large_300mm_100mm.stl - For pots up to 300mm diameter

Use make all to generate all examples, or make help to see individual targets.

Based on PLA with 50% gyroid infill and 4x safety factor:

*Assumes proper print settings (see below)

Print upside-down (wide base on the build plate) for:

• No support material needed
• Maximum strength in compression
• Better bed adhesion
• Cleaner finish on the load-bearing surface

• Layer Height: 0.2-0.3mm
• Wall Thickness: 2-3 perimeters (2.4mm minimum)
• Infill: 50-70% gyroid pattern
• Infill Orientation: 45° for optimal strength
• Print Temperature: Follow filament guidelines
• Bed Temperature: Standard for your material
• Print Speed: 40-60mm/s for better layer adhesion

• PLA: Good for indoor use, easier to print

  • Compressive strength: ~55 MPa
  • Keep away from direct sunlight

• PETG: Recommended for outdoor/greenhouse use

  • Compressive strength: ~33 MPa
  • Better UV and moisture resistance
  • More flexible, less likely to crack

• height: Overall height of the riser (25-200mm)
• diameter: Base diameter - widest part (50-400mm)

• mesh_pattern: "hexagonal" or "triangular"
• mesh_cell_size: Size of mesh cells (10-40mm)
• mesh_wall_thickness: Thickness of mesh struts (2-6mm, default 3mm)
• mesh_depth: Thickness of mesh layer (3-8mm, default 4mm)

• rib_count: Number of support ribs (4-12, default 6)
• wall_thickness: Shell thickness (3-15mm, default 6mm)
• rib_width: Width of support ribs (6-20mm, default 10mm)
• top_ring_thickness: Thickness of load-bearing ring (8-25mm, default 12mm)
• draft_angle: Taper angle for printability (0-15°, default 7°)

The riser uses several engineering principles for maximum strength:

1. Inverted Truncated Cone: Distributes load evenly while minimizing material
2. Triangular Ribs: Optimal strength-to-weight ratio in compression
3. Thick Top Ring: Distributes pot weight and prevents stress concentration
4. Draft Angles: Ensures printability without supports
5. Mesh Support System: Complete bottom support with drainage

Hexagonal Mesh:

• Lower material usage (more open area)
• Better drainage flow through larger openings
• Faster print times
• Good for lighter pots and standard applications
• Natural honeycomb strength distribution

Triangular Mesh:

• Maximum structural strength (triangles are strongest shape)
• Better for heavy/wet soil loads
• More contact points for comprehensive pot support
• Ideal for soft-bottom pots or heavy ceramic planters
• Superior load distribution under stress

• Always use appropriate infill percentage for expected loads
• Check layer adhesion - poor adhesion significantly reduces strength
• For critical applications, print a test piece first
• Consider environmental factors (UV exposure, moisture) when selecting materials
• The load ratings include a 4x safety factor but assume proper printing

• For Heavy Loads: Use triangular mesh with smaller cell size
• For Material Efficiency: Use hexagonal mesh with larger cell size
• For Large Diameters: Increase rib_count (8 ribs for 300mm+)
• For Heavy Pots: Increase wall_thickness and reduce mesh_cell_size
• For Better Drainage: Increase mesh_cell_size but ensure adequate support
• For Faster Printing: Use hexagonal mesh with larger cells
• For Render Quality: Use higher $fn values for smoother circles (impacts render time)

This design is provided as-is for personal and commercial use. Please ensure your printed risers are appropriate for your specific use case.