The weeding tool is a single 3D printable component magnetically mounts onto FarmBot’s UTM like any other tool. It works by driving the tool vertically into the soil in order to push any small weeds under the soil, and disrupt their young fragile root systems.

Weeder.jpg

Weeding early and often

This tool, and FarmBot in general, is designed for removing weeds early and often such that the weeds are always small, young, and fragile, and therefore easily removed.

What makes this possible is FarmBot’s diligence. FarmBot has 24 hours a day to maintain your garden meticulously. It can be configured to remove weeds every single day that a human would never waste their time with. This prevents weeds from even having a chance at becoming a real problem.

If you configure FarmBot well, you will never even notice weeds in your garden because they will never have a chance to survive beyond germination. Over time, the number of weed seeds in your growing area will approach zero.

How does FarmBot determine which plants are weeds?

Using computer vision (currently in alpha), FarmBot detects all plants in the bed. Any detected plant that was not planted by FarmBot is considered a weed and marked for removal with the Weeder tool.

Not designed for large, established weeds

Do not expect this tool, or FarmBot in general, to be able to remove large, established weeds. Instead, configure your FarmBot to weed more often so that weeds do not have a chance at becoming large and established.

15 minutes

This is the estimated time it will take to assemble the weeder..

Step 1: Gather the parts and tools

Gather all the weeding tool parts from the table below and lay them out in a logical manner. To complete the assembly, you will also need the following tools:

Qty. Component
1 Weeder
6 M3 x 25mm Screws
2 M3 Locknuts
3 M5 x 30mm Screws
3 M5 Locknuts
3 M5 Washers
3 Ring Magnets
1 Jumper Link

Step 2: Install the universal tool hardware

Install the magnets and tool verification jumper link using the instructions in the universal tool hardware reference guide.

none.png

Step 3: Install the implements

Attach the weeding blade to the weeder using a M3 x 25mm screw. Make sure not to over-tighten the screw as you could strip the plastic of the blade.

blade.png

Attach the three weeding spikes to the weeder using M3 x 25mm screws. Make sure not to over-tighten the screw as you could strip the plastic of the spikes.

all.png

Customizable

The weeding tool is customizable so you can optimize it for your soil conditions, the types of weeds you are up against, and also how you configure your weeding sequences. Feel free to reconfigure the implements or just use some of them. You can also create new implements of your own design with a 3D printer or out of household materials such as woods screws or heavy duty paperclips.

Come up with something effective and easy to make? Share your creation in the FarmBot forum!