Ergonomic Watering Can (350ml)

I bought myself a houseplant. I downloaded and printed the most popular watering can on printables. I didn't like how it felt in my hand so I decided that it's the perfect excuse to design my own :) .

The main feature of this watering can is the ease of holding it. You can hold it without as much as bending a single finger. Just like a good beer mug:

(the line in the middle is a print defect, since I already printed a lot at that point I didn't want to print another one)

And if you decide to flex your fingers (say because you need to aim the spout), they will naturally bend around the simple, hand-sized cylindrical shape (similar size as a drinking can).

Further design considerations:

• The spout hole is at the bottom of the cylinder, so the water flow is well-behaved no matter the water level.
• The bottom wall of the spout tapers to the thinnest possible thickness (achievable with a 0.4mm nozzle) to minimize the formation of drips.
• Concessions are made to the poor overhang printing of PETG, the bottom curve of the handle is removed.
• Watering cans often have some kind of splash protection on the top rim, but I found it best to omit it. I actually tried a fourth design (not in the picture below) with splash protection, and I found it less intuitive to properly control the water flow with it! The fully open top makes it easier to see the water level and to clean.
• The spout trades off robustness with “ability to aim properly”.

A cross section of the design.

Design iterations: Left: The model I got from printables ( https://www.printables.com/model/246458-watering-can ) . Looks very nice, but the handle is somewhat awkward to grip, and I feel like it uses excessive material (PLA compatible though!). Also, you just can't beat the volume-to-footprint ratio of a perfect cylinder 🙂. Middle: My first from-scratch design with 1mm walls. This one leaks and the spout feels too fragile. Right: Final design with 2mm walls and more robust spout.

Printing guide (see 3mf file):

• Developed with Prusament PETG ( https://www.prusa3d.com/product/prusament-petg-chalky-blue-1kg/ )
• I used 0.2mm for prototyping (3h 35m), will probably overnight print with 0.1mm next time for better detail.
• 5 perimeters, 10 bottom layers (a thinner version leaked)
• Organic support, on build plate only.
• Uses 125g, 41m of filament.