HexCell Modular Display Stand System

HexCell is a modular system of 6 sided display stands I designed to show multiple collectibles when there is a limited amount of shelf space. By joining and stacking individual cells, you can easily create your own custom configuration. Cells can be non-permanently attached using small printable joiners that snap the cells together. For a quick reference, the cells are 80mm deep, 70mm wide at the base, 140mm wide at the center, and about 120mm tall in the middle. This is the right size for many small collectibles, including most Funko Pop figures.

Update 10/04/2020 - For some additional designs, including new nuclei and joiners, and the hexagon pattern cell, I have added a collection of them to a new Thing. Click below to see them:
HexCell Modular Display Stand Extras

Update 9/10/2020 - I have uploaded FreeCad files for the solid cell and the inner and edge joiners, for anyone who wants to tweak the design. I can upload the design files for the other models too if there is interest. Please share your creations if you remix. : )

Update 7/16/2020 - The original inner joiner STL was undersized. I have added a new STL ("hexcell_joiner_inner_FIXED.stl") that should be properly sized with everything else in the collection.

There is a simple platform(optional) that can be printed separately to elevate the item (useful when the item is short, but has a base that is wider than the bottom of the cell. I designed it for use with Q Fig figures.) I've also designed a "floating nucleus" (also optional) which is like a cell within a cell. It's useful for displaying items that look undersized within the cell, and since it's support stand isn't apparent from most angles, it can have a cool hovering effect.

To give some options for more visual interest (and to try to save time/material when printing), I've included a few different cell designs. There is a solid-sided cell, a cell with a grill pattern on all 6 sides, and a cell with grills on the top and bottom, and open windows on the other 4 sides. Otherwise the styles are identical and can be used together in any combination you want.

The joiners have channels that will fit the thickness of either 1 or 2 cell walls. The "inner" joiners are used on corners where there are 3 cells being joined together. The "edge" joiners are for corners where 2 cells are being joined, or on the outside edge of a single cell (as decoration, not to hold anything together.)

To make your cell structure stable, I suggest putting joiners on the front and back of any corners where cells meet. I designed the joiner channels without adjusting for real-world factors, so unless your printer precision is excellent, they will probably be very tight. I suggest increasing their size by 10-15% when printing them so they will fit snugly, but not so tight that they keep breaking. I also suggest printing joiners in batches to make it easy, and to print some extras in case some of them break. Most of the tension in the joiners goes across their layer lines, so they can be fragile that way.

The cells are strong enough that they should easily support the weight of most smaller display pieces to a height of several cells. The actual strength will of course depend on the material you use, the number of cells connected, the orientation you print at, and other factors that are under your control.

I experimented with some other platforms and nucleus designs that I may upload to a separate "Thing" in the near future. I didn't want to include too many optional files with the main project, to keep it from being confusing.

All of the included files are pretty generic and can be used for more than just display stands. If you're inspired to use them as drawer organizers, toy train tunnels, a super fat pen holder or whatever, go for it.

I'd love to see any makes or remixes from my design so please share them. I'd also like to hear any suggestions or ideas for improvement or other things that could make them look cool or serve a new purpose. I know I didn't invent the hexagon, but hopefully I made it easier to put stuff on it.

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