This page describes my storage/assortment boxes system: Designed by a perfectionist with deep care for every detail. Thoroughly tested and optimised for fast and reliable 3D-print.
Main Features
Download the free set now!
Test these features on your printer and download a free set of regular, flat and tall assortment boxes, grid rails and lids. Use these files to test the objects you like and ensure they are exactly what you need. If you like them, I invite you to buy the full sets for a small amount in the shop.
…or buy the full set
Optimal Raster
I found the 60×60mm raster fits into almost every drawer and on every shelf. The smaller assortment boxes have the right size for screws and electronic components. They are still large enough to grab the components with your fingers.
A benefit of the square raster is the flexibility of how you orient your storage boxes in a drawer. Long boxes can be oriented horizontally or vertically, which I found especially useful to fill gaps at the backside of a drawer with boxes for long screws.
The 60mm raster matches most (European) furniture, making the best use of the available space. The largest models are 6×6 units, which is 360×360mm – exactly the size of the Original Prusa XL print bed.
The stacking raster is 40mm, which means each stacked 1-unit regular storage box will add 40mm in height. The actual height of a regular box is 44mm, but if you stack two, you will get a height of 84mm. Always 4mm more than the added unit heights.
The rims of stacked assortment boxes will always match at the top, even if you use flat (0.5 unit or halve height) or tall (2-unit or double height) boxes.
There are boxes with 20mm, 40mm, 60mm, 80mm, 120mm and 160mm heights. All these sizes will align perfectly when stacked, even if you mix different heights.
Stackable
The ability to stack the boxes was an important feature of my system.
One one the ideas for these assortment boxes is to make them removable from a drawer or shelf. If you are working on a project, you, e.g. grab the boxes with the M3x8, M3x12 and M3 nuts and place them on your workbench. The storage boxes stack securely so that you can move them easily around.
Also, by stacking assortment boxes, you can fill the vertical space in a drawer or shelf more efficiently.
Storage boxes of the same size can be stacked, and smaller boxes on larger ones. There are some limitations because of the 3D-print design:
- 1✕1 boxes do not stack well on 2✕2, or 2✕3, etc. boxes – because of physics. 😄
- You can not stack long boxes crosswise. I think the groove I use for the rails at the bottom would get too large. Still, it is possible to stack them crosswise, yet they aren’t very stable.
Stabilizing Profiles
The assortment boxes use a special side profile to make them more rigid. I optimised the rigidity for PLA, but it will also help if you plan to print the boxes with softer materials, like PETG.
Each different series of storage boxes has its profile, adapted to the individual height.
The feature on the top is consistent for all heights. It makes it easier to grab the assortment boxes if you remove them from a drawer.
Larger storage boxes have ribs at the sides to prevent bulging if the box is filled with heavy objects, like screws. Larger boxes have more and stronger ribs for the optimal compromise between material use and stability.
These ribs also improve the stacking of the assortment boxes, align smaller ones and prevent them from sliding.
Rail Grids
In drawers or cases, rail grids keep all storage boxes in place. For this reason, I also designed parts you can glue or screw into your drawer or case.
I created various grids so you can fill the space in your drawer, shelf or case as efficiently as possible.
Optimized for FFF
The FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) process has several pros and cons. I designed my organiser boxes system optimised for this process from the ground up. I tested all designs on a Prusa i3 MK3s with a 0.4mm nozzle, with the default profile “0.2mm speed”, until I got the best print results and the lowest print times.
My Goals for the FFF Process
- Print time reduction.
- Optimized for speed.
- Also, the grid size best uses the Prusa i3 MK3s print bed.
- Material reduction.
- Best rigidity for PLA.
- Printable with nozzle sizes: 0.4mm, 0.6mm and 0.8mm.
- Reduction of stringing and limiting the risk of defects.
If you look at the result of your slicer for a 0.2mm layer with a 0.4mm nozzle process, you see an equal profile with four lines for the walls.
You will get the following profile with three lines for the same object with a 0.35mm layer and 0.6mm nozzle process.
Dual-Label System
The mobility of the assortment boxes was an important feature for me. I like to collect all parts for a project and place the boxes on my workbench for easy assembly. If the container is in the drawer, labels must be visible from above, but if the storage boxes are stacked, a label should be visible at the side.
Each box has an area where you can place a 12mm (½ inch) label strip. The picture shows the location, which is visible if the box is placed in a drawer or shelf.
There is a second spot to place a label on the outer side of the assortment box. This spot is visible if the box is placed on a shelf or if the boxes are stacked.
The 45º angle of the label allows you to easily read them inside a drawer if you have a limited line of sight.
About the Free Set on Printables.com
There is a limited but large free set of storage boxes on the Printables website. This is a good starting point to check out the quality of the models and see if they match your requirements.
The Full Set in the Shop
You can buy a full set with all models in my shop for a small amount. Your money will support all the free and open-source content on my website. Also, I donate a small part of my earnings to various organisations that share my values.
View the catalogue page for a complete visual overview of all models from all series.
The License of the Sets in the Shop
You get these files in the shop under a different license. You will find the full text in the “license.txt” file inside the package and linked to the shop. It consists of three parts:
- You can use the files personally to do everything you like to print the boxes and grids.
- You may use the prints (not the files) commercially. E.g. you can sell the printed boxes if you like.
- You must not make me liable if these model files destroyed your printer or similar. 😄
Free Updates
Additionally, if you buy one of the sets, I will send you updates or extensions of a set for free. As you can see, currently, all files are in revision C. If I improve the models to revision D, as long as the email address you entered in the shop is valid, you will receive the improved or fixed versions of the files. The same is true if I extend a set in the shop and add more model files.
Printing Costs
If you plan to fill your drawers and shelves with 3D-printed assortment boxes, the costs may be an important factor for you. For this reason, I tried to keep the material use as low as possible.
For a rough calculation, you can use 20g filament per regular storage box unit. The unit calculation means a 1×1 box has 1 unit, and a 2×2 box has four units. The following table assumes PLA filament for 20 EUR per kg. Energy costs and amortisation of your printer are not included in the calculation.
| Count | Size | Units | Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1×1 | 1 | 40×1×20g = 800g | 16 EUR |
| 15 | 1×2 | 2 | 15×2×20g = 600g | 12 EUR |
| 10 | 1×3 | 3 | 10×3×20g = 600g | 12 EUR |
| 5 | 2×2 | 4 | 5×4×20g = 400g | 8 EUR |
| 48 EUR |
You will pay approximately 48 EUR filament costs for 70 storage boxes, filling a drawer or shelf of 90×48cm (~0.5m²).
Frequently Asked Questions
May I sell printed boxes?
Yes, you can sell printed assortment boxes from the full sets you bought in the store.
May I convert or modify the objects and files?
Yes, you can convert and modify the objects as you like to print them. You must not create and publish derived or modified versions of the storage boxes without my consent.
Do you provide Fusion360 sources for the boxes?
I have no plans to publish the sources for the assortment boxes. The project is too complex, involving script and data files, to be useful for anything than copying the whole design.
How do you use the earnings of the sold sets?
Your money will support all the free and open-source content on my website. Also, I donate a small part of my earnings to various organisations that share my values.
How to Print the Boxes?
Printing the boxes and the grids is simple:
- Download the 3MF files and load them in your slicer software.
- Make sure the bottom of the boxes and the grids are oriented to the printing plate.
- Use a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer height for the best results.
- The boxes are optimised for PLA, but other materials, like PETG, work well.
Do you have a recommendation for a 3D Printer?
The photos of all the boxes on this page were printed with a Prusa MK3S+ and Prusa Mini+. These are the only printer I own, and they work perfectly, but I lack the comparison to give any recommendations.
Pictures of Real Prints
The pictures in the following gallery were printed on a Prusa i3 MK3s printer, with a 0.4mm nozzle, and 0.2mm layer height using Prusament PLA filament. I used the default slicer profile, 0.2mm speed from Prusa.
