Polka Food Storage Box Clips

thingiverse

I own quite a few polka-dotted food storage boxes. They've been sold in huge numbers at very affordable prices by Asda, Tesco, and other major retailers. Their lids are incredibly secure and fit perfectly on top of the boxes. However, every time I took something like a hearty soup to work, I was constantly worried about the mess caused by leaks from the lid popping open. So, I came up with these clever clips to keep the lids firmly in place. They work remarkably well! I've also created an even more secure version that does its job extremely well, although it's much trickier to remove. To avoid having to print one clip at a time, I've included a 4-up version for your convenience. If you want to 100% guarantee the lid on a larger box like the 1.8l model pictured here, consider using 6 or 8 clips instead. Here are my recommended print settings: Print Settings Rafts: Yes, always use them for added support. Supports: It doesn't matter which ones I choose - just make sure to include them in your settings. Resolution: I prefer medium resolution for maximum detail. Infill: Go all out and choose full infill for the strongest possible clip. Notes: I printed my clips in PLA on an M3D Micro 3D printer. Here's how I designed these ingenious clips: 1. Measurements: To get accurate dimensions, I used a precise vernier caliper to take careful measurements of each part. 2. Design: Using Tinkercad, I crafted two interconnected curved roof objects - one as a hole and the other as a curved shape to form the spine of the clip. A rectangular hole was added to truncate the curve and provide clearance for easy removal. Next, another curved roof object created the bottom end, while a wedge shape served as the hook that snaps over the box's flange. 3. Test Print, Refinement, Reprint: After my first successful print, I tweaked my design by increasing the length of the entire clip by 10% and doubling its depth to perfect it. To make it even more secure, I added an extra 0.1mm to the hook portion, and for convenience, I tesselated it into a 4-up version using Tinkercad's built-in functions.