Conserving water is becoming more of an important issue in today's world. An open-sourced sprinkler attachment for a hose can lead to less consumption of water. Its main use is providing a low cost irrigation solution for small gardens. Urban farming specifically can greatly benefit from an open-sourced sprinkler attachment.
Bill of Materials
- 3D Printer
- 1.75mm diameter PLA (1kg ~ $25)
- .STL file
- Hose
- Water Supply
Tools needed
- MOST Delta RepRap or similar RepRap 3-D printer
Skills and knowledge needed
Basic understanding of 3D printing
Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions
- Download the STL file
- Generate gcode via Cura, Slicer or another slicing software
- Print the sprinkler head using the 3D printer
- Screw the sprinkler head onto the water hose threads
- Turn on water supply once sprinkler head is placed in desired area
- Assembly time estimate: under 1min
Common Problems and Solutions
When printing the sprinkler head, set the infill high enough to eliminate unwanted leaking or spraying. Also ensure that the printer is extruding at the correct rate.
Cost savings
- Commercial Equivalent: $5-$20 https://www.google.com/search?q=sprinkler+head&safe=off&es_sm=93&biw=1920&bih=955&tbm=shop&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=6fl_VNfhGcyqyAT2r4HABg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1#spd=16760520700473328747
- Sprinkler Head: 33grams of PLA at $25/kg ---> $0.83
- Percent Savings (using low end commercial equivalent): 83.4%
References
Thingiverse Sprinkler, Available: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:124253/#files