Aperture Box

thingiverse

I designed an original iris box with 8 doors that produces a sliding octagonal aperture. The box bears a striking resemblance to the Aperture Science logo from the Portal game universe, earning it the alternate name "aperture box". A new simple mechanism design utilizes sliding dovetail joints and screwed hinge joints, allowing the box to be opened by pushing the handles on the doors in a clockwise direction - a feature that can be reversed simply by mirroring the parts in your slicer. This design was first shared on MyMiniFactory in late 2017 before being moved here. For those interested in exploring more iris boxes, I have designed several other versions which can be found on my Thingiverse design page: https://www.thingiverse.com/BrienAllison/designs. Additional designs are also available on my MyMiniFactory page: https://www.myminifactory.com/users/Brien%20Allison, including an improved version of this design: Aperture-Iris Box https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-85011. The box measures approximately 80mm in width and height, with a container opening of 64mm. The part files are designed for M2x6 countersunk/flathead screws, requiring a total of 16 screws to assemble the box. Parts can be scaled up or down to accommodate larger or smaller screws, such as M3x8 screws at 150% scale - note that purchasing screws in bulk from a specialist supplier is significantly more cost-effective. Two versions of the container are included: the standard container which maintains the box's original height of 80mm (as seen on the red printed example), and a shortened container which reduces the overall height to approximately 40mm (as used on other examples). Two types of 'door' parts are also provided: the 'Door handle' with a ridge for easy gripping and opening, and the plain 'door' part without an extension.