HexCell Modular Display Stand System

thingiverse

HexCell is a modular system of 6-sided display stands designed by me to show multiple collectibles when shelf space is limited. 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 reference, the cells are 80mm deep, 70mm wide at the base, 140mm wide at the center, and about 120mm tall in the middle. This size is ideal for many small collectibles, including most Funko Pop figures. Update: I've added a collection of designs to a new Thing, which includes additional nuclei and joiners, as well as a hexagon pattern cell. You can access these files by clicking on this link: <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4614948">HexCell Modular Display Stand Extras</a> Update: I've uploaded FreeCad files for the solid cell and the inner and edge joiners, allowing you to tweak the design. If there's interest, I can also upload the design files for other models. Please share your creations if you remix. Update: The original inner joiner STL was undersized. I've added a new STL that should be properly sized with everything else in the collection. There is an optional platform that can be printed separately to elevate the item. This is useful when the item is short but has a base wider than the bottom of the cell. I designed it for use with Q Fig figures. I've also created a "floating nucleus," which is like a cell within a cell. It's useful for displaying items that look undersized in the cell, and since its support stand isn't apparent from most angles, it can have a cool hovering effect. To give you more options for visual interest and to save time/material when printing, I've included 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. Most of the tension in the joiners goes across their layer lines, so they can be fragile that way. The cells are strong enough to easily support the weight of most smaller display pieces to a height of several cells. The actual strength will depend on the material you use, the number of cells connected, the orientation you print at, and other factors 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.