Decide whether the print is a decorative outer shape or must hold water itself. Watertightness depends on design, material, settings, production and use; “vase mode” alone does not establish it. A separate, tested insert makes the water-holding boundary clearer.
Download the English project worksheet. Open it as UTF-8 CSV, replace the guide context with your project inputs and record observations separately from acceptance decisions. Blank cells do not indicate a passed check.
Specify the contents before choosing the shape
Choose dry decoration, an outer vase around a separate insert, or a print that itself holds water. The third option requires an application-specific trial and still leaves service-life questions. The fictional example here uses a decorative shell around a glass insert. No physical test, food-contact approval or leak guarantee is provided.
Measure the actual insert before the outer vase
Choose the actual insert first. Measure its maximum outside diameter at several heights, total height, rim and taper, and define the intended water level. A catalogue dimension is insufficient for critical fit: measure the item you will use, with a photo ID and date.
Compare those values with the opening and interior of the chosen 3D-printed vase. Discuss insertion and removal through the clearance and tolerance guide.
Check the whole insertion path
| Height above base | Fictional insert diameter | Required free inside dimension | Next decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mm | 76.0 mm | Not yet determined | Agree clearance |
| 80 mm | 78.0 mm | Not yet determined | Account for taper |
| 150 mm | 80.0 mm | Not yet determined | Check rim and removal |
These are example measurements, not a suggested universal allowance. Space at the bottom is useless if the rim cannot pass the opening. An increased outside size does not prove adequate inside space.
Plan filling, grip and maintenance
Decide how much insert rim may remain visible and where fingers can grip. Check that the full insert can lift vertically without levering against the printed edge. Consider spills and a stable surface. The outer print should not conceal a leaking insert; spilled water must remain accessible for drying.
Test water retention separately from the printed shell
Test the insert outside the print in a safe place, filled to the agreed level. Dry its exterior and record start and end time, surface, water level and observed outcome over an agreed period. Adapt that test to the actual use. Do not install a damaged, leaking or unidentified insert. One successful check does not prove unlimited life.
Agree what is accepted and what is supplied
Keep the acceptance record with the insert
Record use, insert ID, diameter measurements, water level, free space, grip and leak-test outcome. Proceed only when the separate insert passes its own check and can be inserted and removed without force. Without the insert or known fit, the design remains provisional. If the print itself must hold water, define a separate trial and maintenance plan.
For a selected design in the vase collection, enquire from its model and state dry flowers or a separate water-holding insert. Include diameters, height and rim shape and ask about both opening and interior clearance.
If the shell must be designed around your particular insert, request custom home accessories. Agree who supplies the insert and how it stays removable. The printed shell is not thereby watertight, and an insert in a photograph is not automatically included.