Hobby / Needle File / Hex Bit Caddy

thingiverse

Update 2/12/17: I've added versions of the hex bit box and three row file caddy that have a bottom surface that prints on the model, opposed to a bottom you have to glue on. This allows you to print the model, pause the printer before the top is printed, add sand or other filler into the cavity, and then continue printing the top surface over the filled cavity. You get a one-piece item filled with sand or other filler that's ready to use when it comes off the bed. If you don't care to add a filler, you can print in one piece as usual. Update 1/9/17: I've printed later items with only one perimeter, and they're more than strong enough for the purpose intended if filled with sand. I used a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.3 layer height. Any nozzle smaller than 0.4 mm might not yield thick enough walls to be serviceable with only one perimeter. Note: These items were designed to be filled with sand to stabilize them because of their top-heavy load of files, screwdrivers or hex bits. They consist of a base and a hollow box shell. Without a filler of some kind, they may be useless for most things. Also, since the box is just an open shell, it's not manifold, and it may cause problems with some software. It slices and prints OK using Slic3r and Repetier, regardless of the warning presented. For the small box: I started out to make a holder that was twice the size of this one, but I failed to notice that the holes were twice the size I intended. Since my files didn't have handles, it worked out well to just scale down the whole thing down to half size. If you have files with handles, then maybe you can just scale it back up. After I printed my two copies, I made some minor changes to the Sketchup files to increase the thickness of the base and the height of the overlap between the base and box. I didn't print another after making these changes. Let me know if critical info is missing. Print Settings: Printer Brand: RepRap Printer: Prusa I3 Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2 is OK when not adding filler, or 0.3 layer height or more if adding filler. Infill: zero Post-Printing: I cleaned up the fit of the base to the box with a sharp file. With the settings I used, the bottom fit onto the shell very nicely. I filled it with washed sand glued together with the mixture of white glue and water I use for prepping the printer bed. It took a couple days to dry. I also used a swab to make sure there wasn't any glue and sand in the holes when gluing the sand. After the glue was dry, I added more sand and glue to make sure the sand was even with the bottom of the box. Attach the base and fasten it with a bead of super glue at the joint. How I Designed This: Sketchup Make 2016