House-martin nest cup — 3D-printable model preview

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Garden & plants Medium

House-martin nest cup

Give house martins a mud-textured nest cup under the eaves

House martins build cup-shaped nests from hundreds of beakfuls of mud under the eaves, and in dry springs there is not enough mud. This cup gives them a head start: its flat back screws to the wall right under the soffit board, which becomes the roof, and the entrance slot at the top of the rounded front is the size martins like. The outside is covered in round bumps like mud pellets, so the birds read it as one of their own. Fix two or three side by side, since martins nest in colonies.

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Size: 150 × 85 × 90 mm
Shape: Rectangular
Walls: 2.4 mm
Volume: 32.7 cm³
Est. weight (PLA): 40.5 g
Parts to print: 1
Category: Garden & plants
Made by: Krypto
Built in: 43 steps

What’s in it

Rectangular, 150 × 85 × 90 mm, with 2.4 mm walls
3 holes in the walls
3 patterned wall panels (raised)

How to print it

Print in brown or grey with 4 walls. Screw the flat side to the wall so the open top is tight under the soffit, at least 2 m up.

Prints as shown on its floor, no supports. Large holes in the walls may need supports or good bridging.

Filament: at most about 40.5 g of PLA printed solid (roughly $0.81 at $20 per kg); normal infill uses less.

To get the files, open it in the generator and choose File › Download STL (one file per part) or Download 3MF (every part on one plate).

Questions

What size is the house-martin nest cup model?

The house-martin nest cup model measures 150 × 85 × 90 mm (width × depth × height). You can change every size in the free SO3D.xyz generator before you download it.

Does it need supports?

It may need supports in places. Print in brown or grey with 4 walls. Screw the flat side to the wall so the open top is tight under the soffit, at least 2 m up. Prints as shown on its floor, no supports. Large holes in the walls may need supports or good bridging.

How much filament does it use?

At most about 40.5 g of PLA (32.7 cm³ printed solid), roughly $0.81 of filament at $20 per kg. Normal infill uses less.

Can I change it?

Yes. Open it in the SO3D.xyz generator (free, in your browser), change the size, walls, dividers, holes, text or anything else, then download it as STL or 3MF for your slicer.

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Make it fit your space

Change the size, walls, dividers, holes and labels of the house-martin nest cup model in your browser, then download it for your printer. Free, no CAD needed.

Customize this model