Bird Suet Feeder - 2020

STL revised so that NO SUPPORTS need be added.

A hanging holder for one or two standard 60mm suet balls. Print both container and hanger. Any PLA filament will be fine.

Birds love suet - especially if easy to get and high off the ground.

I started out with a couple of versions of store-bought suet feeders. This gave me ideas for what NOT to make. The feeder had to be good looking, easy to maintain, and bird friendly.

All design done with Tinkercad. First version had holes that were too small for birds to put their heads through. The second version worked well but was weak with thin walls between holes and soon fell apart. The third version had holes that were too big and suet fell out when down to the size of golf balls. Also the walls were too slippery and the birds could not reach the middle position. This version that I am now publishing solves all the problems. The extra perches allow birds to reach all parts of the feeder and the holes are big enough for birds to reach inside but still small enough to prevent suet from falling out until the final crumbs.

You must NOT set your slicer to use supports. The provided pillars at each corner break away cleanly. Use 0.2mm layer height (including 1st layer, for best results.

The size uses the full allowed volume of a Monoprice Select Mini. The latest version (4.4.1) of Ultimaker Cura successfully slices using default skirt settings.

NEW EDITS 2022
Added optional 195mm diameter lower perch extender. The birds will love this addition if you have a larger printer.

NEW EDITS 2020
1) Designed upper perch supports and other small changes so as to eliminate the requirement for added supports.
2) Removed the lower perch adhesion pads.
3) Trimmed extreme outer corners so as to easier fit within a 120mm square build area.
4) Improved handle fittings.

NEW EDITS 2019
1) Shortened the bottom perches slightly to easier fit 120x120mm MP Select Mini printer.
2) Extended upper perches. They reach towards the corners of the build area.
3) Added adhesion pads at ends of lower perches to help prevent ABS warping. They are very thin and break off easily after printing.
Note: When using ABS the upper perches will pull away from their supports while printing. The birds love the longer perches and the distorted shape is not noticeable.