Fern Cell / Growth@Formlabs
Formlabs hosts an annual Hackathon, in which employees (aka Formlings) are given a fixed budget to create something awesome. I pitched the idea for two similar projects, Fern Cell and Growth@Formlabs.
Fern Cell is a play on words, mixing the Form Cell (a fully automated system of Form 2 printers sold by Formlabs) and the word "fern," referencing plants. This project involves an automatically-watering array of six gutted Form 2 printers, all managed by an Arduino board, an array of pumps, and moisture sensors for the soil.
Growth@Formlabs is another play on words involving the evolution of Formlabs' printer offerings and potted plants. Very much like Fern Cell, a Form 1, a Form 2, and a Form 3 were gutted and filled with soil and plant life growing within. These printers are not self-watering and require separate waterings by hand.
Team hackathon goodie box
Form 1, Form 2, and Form 3
Purchasing plants
Plant haul for the entire project
Stripping Form 1/6 Form 2s
Form 1 ready for a plant
Preparing Form 2s for planting
3 down...
Transplanting into printer planters
Finished transplant!
Moved to final space, reservoir installed
Final project, Fern Cell and Growth@Formlabs
