Frame Assembly: Structure for Fish and Plants
This custom frame — built with 30x30mm aluminum extrusion profiles — is the physical backbone of the system, supporting both the fish tank and the hydroponic plants. The design features two levels: an upper platform for the aquarium and a stepped lower platform for the plant tray. I originally sketched this structure during Week 2 (Computer-Aided Design) using Tinkercad, back when this project was just pixels and caffeine. Seeing it come to life in metal is, frankly, pretty satisfying.
I started by laying out all the cut profiles, brackets, screws, and of course, the most essential tool: the 5-meter tape measure. No laser cutter here, just old-school mechanical precision (and a little guesswork).
I began assembling the base and vertical columns, verifying squareness along the way. Then, I added horizontal supports and began building the side platform that would eventually hold the hydroponic tray.
Each connection used angle brackets or flat plates, depending on the location and stress expected at each joint. Here's a close-up of one of the reinforced corners:
After some adjusting (and a few extra bolts I swear weren’t in the original plan), the final structure came together. It’s light, rigid, and surprisingly level — ready to receive sensors, plants, fish, and whatever else I decide to throw at it.
