Revised 1/7/2024 - Added 1.5mm to the Lid to make it a bit more rigid.

Link to the Stacking Shelf: https://makerworld.com/en/models/127302#profileId-137732

Gridfinity is a staple for 3d printed storage, but I needed something smaller for storing small screws and other small hardware. Many of these items come in cheap, plastic organizers with flimsy dividers, and latches that break easily. I had two of them that arrived with broken latches, so I wanted to print some replacements. I tried using Gridfinity and the Gridfinity storage box by Pred, but the Gridfinity bins left a lot of wasted space.

To address this, I took some Gridfinity concepts and created smaller bins. The new bins are slightly larger than those of typical plastic organizers, with thin walls and floors, making them very filament-efficient. Despite the thin walls, these bins are sturdy and more than strong enough for their intended purpose.

The 1x1 bin uses less than 5g of filament without a label, or 6.5g with a label. It can even be printed in vase mode, using about 3g of filament.

To complete the solution, I designed a parametric storage box around the bins. The default storage box holds up to 15 bins in a 5x3 configuration. It is printed in just two parts and requires no hardware to assemble. It also includes a spot on each side for a label.

Do Not Print in Silk/Metallic PLA

The latch and hinge are printed in a weak orientation. While efforts were made to reinforce them, silk PLA and metallic PLAs may result in easily breakable hinges due to poor layer adhesion. Regular PLA (including matte PLA) and PETG have shown consistently strong results.

If concerned, print the hinge test to assess a material's strength. Silk PLA typically breaks upon the first hinge removal in my experience.

While mindful of the limitations, I prioritized the elegance of the two-piece design over achieving perfection with all materials. In my testing, all silk PLAs failed consistently, and regular/matte PLAs consistently passed. So it seems to be a pretty straightforward division, but feel free to test for yourself.

This advice primarily pertains to the storage box, but considering to the thin walls, silk PLA might not perform optimally for the the bins, either.

Allow the Lid to Cool Completely Before Removing

The lid is quite thin, and will warp if you remove it from your printer while it is still hot. If it warps, it will not sit flat on the base and you will likely need to reprint it. I recommend waiting until the lid has cooled to room temperature before removal.

Built-In Supports

The storage box uses built-in supports to enhance the consistency of mating parts. While it would likely print fine without them (in PLA, at least), the supports ensure a crisp latch and prevent a crunchy hinge. They become crucial when in PETG or other materials which don't handle overhangs well.

These supports use minimal material and should be easily removable with just your fingers. I strongly recommend printing with the included supports whenever possible. As a courtesy, I've provided a version without the supports, but I highly recommend starting with the supported model for optimal results.

The supports are optimized for 0.2mm layer height. This can be reconfigured in the FreeCAD file.

Parametric Design

This model was created in FreeCAD using parametric design. This is done using the object ‘Parameters’ within the FreeCAD files.

Within the Storage Box FreeCAD file, the ‘Bin Grid’ section controls the simple X/Y dimensions of the box. The ‘Bins’ section controls the dimensions of the bins, which will effect the size of the box. Most of the other parameters aren't intended to be messed with; it's probably best to just reach out if you wanted something else modified.

The Bins were modelled in a separate FreeCAD file. In the parameters, the ‘Bin Size’ section controls most of what you'll want to modify. You should be able to create quite a few bin configurations using just those settings. If you want to mess with the base bin dimension, you can do so in the ‘Bins’ section.

Once you've determined the appropriate parameters, open the "Print Ready" folder, which contains the models pre-rotated for optimal print orientation. To export each part, click on the desired component, and select File > Export.