Functional Pokéball - Nintendo Switch Game Cartridge Case

thingiverse

I wanted to find a cool way to hold my Switch game carts, and that's exactly what I came up with. This Poké Ball design has been sitting on my computer for months now, but it's finally time to share it with all of you. With the new Pokémon Let's Go games being announced, I figured this was the perfect opportunity. Disclaimer: The Switch logo is a trademark of Nintendo and the Poké Ball is a copyright of the Pokémon Company. I don't claim ownership over either one. Design ------- I've seen many nice Poké Ball designs on Thingiverse (check out https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1615753 by MrFozzie, https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:411193 by Intentional3D, and more), but none were exactly what I wanted. So, I decided to improve my 3D modeling skills while making something that perfectly suits my needs. I designed this in AutoDesk 123D Design, which is unfortunately no longer supported. I was going to share the design files until I heard about its discontinuation. However, if you want to make any edits or modifications, feel free to message me. The Poké Ball can open and close (you can even add a small torsion spring to the hinge so it pops open). When printed at 100% size, you can use 1.75 mm filament as the hinge (I actually melted the filament into the case using an old soldering iron). The button also has a spring in it and feels really nice. I used pen springs for both the button and hinge (cut them and bent the ends), although you may be able to find nicer ones. I created several different layouts, but only printed the "9 carts" version so far. It's designed to hold tightly onto the cartridges without damaging the game art because it has larger "windows" where the art is visible. The "9 carts - loose" design doesn't have this feature, but it shouldn't damage the art anyway. The "11 carts" may not leave much room to grab games if it's full. The "flat" design doesn't have any cartridge slots if you'd like a canvas to create your own design. The "hollow" design is like a traditional Poké Ball and leaves more space for things other than cartridges. Each of the "carts" designs also has room for 2-4 micro-SD cards. The bottom shell has a version called "90-degree cut," which ensures the Poké Ball can open up to 90 degrees. Otherwise, the top shell will hit the bottom shell before opening fully. The top shell comes in either its original form or with a cutout for a Switch logo to be embedded. Assembly --------- It's a modular design that should fit together easily. There are five parts: the top outer shell, the top inner shell, a button, the bottom inner shell, and the bottom outer shell. Some of these parts have different versions (shown in 3D models). The button is three separate parts (the button itself, its shell, and latches). To assemble it, put a spring (I got mine from a pen) into the button cylinder and insert it into the shell. Hold that in place and push the latches in (you may need to cut or sand the edges off). You might also have to glue the latches in depending on whether they stay by themselves or fall out (the button-tight design may have more luck staying put). Be careful putting the button into the ring on the top inner shell, as this is probably the most fragile part of the print. If you choose to include the Switch Logo insert, it might need to be sanded to fit properly into the top outer shell. First, assemble the button and put it into the top inner shell, lining up the latch with where it goes in the bottom inner shell. The outer shells fit onto their respective inner shells (they're keyed and will only fit one way) and should be glued once you have a good fit. Then, the top and bottom halves fit together, and a hinge (1.75 mm filament) can be inserted. This is the time to insert a torsion spring if you have one (it can be very tricky to position correctly and get the hinge in). I recommend hot gluing the ends of that spring onto the inner shells. Make sure the Poké Ball opens and closes to your liking, and you're done! If you need any help or have questions, feel free to message me. I might try to make a video next time I can print one (maybe not until Fall). I didn't design a stand, but there's a lot of nice ones available on Thingiverse. I really liked this one by xlitec13 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:656385). Hope you like the design!