Multi-drawer Components Cabinet

thingiverse

I designed this components cabinet because I wanted a custom solution for storing small parts, specifically resistors. Since there wasn't an existing design on Thingiverse that met my needs, I created it from scratch. The cabinet's walls are intentionally thin (1mm) to avoid over-engineering and reduce material usage. The lip at the top-front of each drawer slot prevents accidental removal by allowing drawers to be inserted or removed at an angle. I rejected other retention methods like spring-clips or detents, as they would complicate the design and require thicker walls. The cut-outs in the walls improve aesthetics and allow for different colored drawers. The drawers themselves have thin walls (0.5mm) and are surprisingly flexible and durable. To make them more rigid, you can set minimum perimeters to 2. Corners are radiused to facilitate easy removal of small parts, eliminating the need for tweezers when a part gets stuck. Drawers feature a finger slot instead of a handle, providing a clean aesthetic while avoiding printing supports. I printed the cabinet carcase in PETG and PLA at 0.35mm layer height after experiencing issues with ABS. Be warned that the largest size (5 x 6) takes approximately 25 hours to print. I've also printed drawers in PLA and ABS, but PETG failed due to radiused corner stress. The design is modular, allowing you to customize or change it by copying and aligning multiple drawer types. You can export them as STL files for printing. The original design included hexagonal perforation infill, which was structurally unsound and removed from the final version. I used SketchUp to create this design and have included the files for those who want to modify or customize it. The cabinet doesn't include feet, but you can add stick-on rubber feet and epoxy them together to form larger sizes if desired. On 22/12/17, I uploaded a picture of the maximum size that will fit on my print-bed (30 drawers, 6 x 5), which took 26 hours to print. The carcase plus drawers required an additional 20 hours. In an update on 05/01/18, I included a clip-on carry handle for those who need to transport their kit between venues. Simply hook the clip over the lip at the rear of the cabinet and click it down at the front. It appears to be a strong attachment, but it's most suitable for cabinets with 3 or 5 columns. The carry handle is a simple extrusion that should print cleanly on most printers. I've printed it in PLA at both 0.2mm and 0.35mm layer heights. My next task is to create a clip to prevent drawers from moving during transit, but my initial designs have been unsuccessful so far.