I used my 3d printer to organize a toolbox.

This is my toolbox build thread - ha! I thought maybe someone else might be interested in it too.

This project has been on my mind for a while. I have a little blue tool box that I take pretty much everywhere and it's special power is that it can disassemble an entire miata using only it. It's been run over by a vw beetle at a lemons race - it's a great little toolbox.

The primary issue with it (and ... well, most of my life) is organization, it's just a bunch of tools piled into a box. I've taken to learning FreeCad using the MangoJelly v1.0 tutorials (they're fantastic) - with that and my slowly acquired 3d printing knowledge I felt like I was ready to attack my toolbox.

I kinda just plopped my tools on the floor and cut some paper roughly to the size of the opening, then did a bunch of measuring:



I pushed them into the computer box.



And then spent an afternoon trying to figure out how to cut the pieces into smaller pieces in freecad - because they were way to big to print on my 3d printer.

I managed to figure that out from a really old video from a random german guy on the youtubes - I was pretty worried at this point if the pieces would fit together or if the tools would fit into their slots - I'm still getting my head around measuring/inputing so that parts fit into one another, but don't interfere.



I woke up this morning like an overexcited kid (it's taking about 18 hours per 1/3 of the insert on my kinda slow 3d printers.)

Boom! They fit together TIGHT, much better than I expected, the tools are also perfectly at home. The only problem (so far) is the handle is much too small- Maybe I can print some kind of attachment to fix that. I guess we'll see.



(crock photo)



I'll update when I get the final 1/3 done and when I design the lower levels. This is the one that fits ontop of the toolbox.

I will note, that the 3d printer I'm using can be found used for really really cheap, and the software is free. Expect a lot of fiddling to learn how to use them, but if you have the spare time and the inclination, this has been a very frugal project with skills that I'm now using more and more in the garage. I wish I'd started learning freecad much sooner.

The links to the software I'm using:

https://www.freecad.org/

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWuyJLVUNtc3UYXXfSglVpfWdX31F-e5S&si=3o4fqj4QNouvVNgP

https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura/

Following! I recently bought a 3d printer with the intention of learning CAD to do things like this and also car stuff. So far all I've done is print fairly useless trinkets but it's really fun. 

I'll have to check out MangoJelly

In reply to Run_Away :

Awesome! I will say FreeCad can be a slog, but now that I've been starting to build momentum it's coming to me. It's one of those things that will slowly, but surely click if you stick with it - MangoJelly is great: he goes slow, is thorough, and there's a process even if you can't understand it in the moment.

I like this video that has a good summary of using 3d printers in the garage:

SuperFastMatt:
https://youtu.be/7WwGkFbwygI?si=Bv-ppMX5Y8enY3d5

I hope I can add a 3d scanner to the stable at some point, I think it'd make some things easier.

Very cool.  You should share here:  https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/what-did-you-3d-print-today/272662/page3/#post4024846

I thought for sure this was going to be a Gridfinity post.

ill check out those tutorials.  I have Freecad on my home computer and find it to be very limiting (but I use enterprise cad systems at work)

In reply to TravisTheHuman :

Oh, I didn't know there was a thread for that!

Make sure to upgrade your version of FreeCad, v1 is a completely different animal.

FreeCad **is** a bit limiting compared to most enterprise solutions from my understanding, but I believe it's on the cusp of having it's "Blender Moment." On a personal note, I think FOSS (Free Open Source Software) is one of the great things in humanity, along with libraries, bicycles, etc. You own it - all of it - and you can depend on it, and if you don't like it, you can change the source code. Awesome.

Besides MangoJelly, here's another video around creating models that "don't break" in FreeCad.

Engineering Maths "Making models that don't break in FreeCAD"

This morning I'm trying to create a basic bolt in mount for my mk60e5 abs.

Yeah, I have FreeCAD 1.0.  The part I'm currently struggling with is how to relate a sketch to a previous sketch.  Don't get me wrong, I think its an awesome tool, and I'm totally pro open-source.

But I also regularly use 2 other CAD systems and learning a new one in addition to those is certainly challenging my brain.  Its super easy to get frustrated and say "screw it, I'm just going to model this in NX or Rhino"

Back on topic, regarding tool organizers, a super easy way to get your layout is to lay your tools on top of a scanner (2D) and scan them a few at a time.  Then you can just trace the outline in CAD real quick (or use a python script, etc).  For sockets its just as quick to measure obviously.

I'm getting closer and closer to getting a 3D printer and the toolbox organization would be high on my list. I've got a blow molded case/set that is decent along with a backpack for wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers but I'd really like to build my own set in a smaller, portable toolbox but with what I need for my use, I'm sick of carrying 50% sae tools that I never use for example.

Nice work! 
 

I picked up a Ender V3 SE really cheap over the holidays and have been figuring it out. It's wild how limitless the possibilities are!

Ive been trying to figure out Fusion360 as my CAD of choice but my background is solidworks and I'm not following tutorials so my progress has been predictable. 
 

Would you see Freecad is worth it over something like F360? I don't mind learning a new system but I'm skeptical an open source program is better than a well established one...

edit: Creality puts their stuff on sale on eBay and sometimes eBay puts their own sale on it too. I saved ~$100 by being patient

TravisTheHuman said:

Yeah, I have FreeCAD 1.0.  The part I'm currently struggling with is how to relate a sketch to a previous sketch.  Don't get me wrong, I think its an awesome tool, and I'm totally pro open-source.

But I also regularly use 2 other CAD systems and learning a new one in addition to those is certainly challenging my brain.  Its super easy to get frustrated and say "screw it, I'm just going to model this in NX or Rhino"

Back on topic, regarding tool organizers, a super easy way to get your layout is to lay your tools on top of a scanner (2D) and scan them a few at a time.  Then you can just trace the outline in CAD real quick (or use a python script, etc).  For sockets its just as quick to measure obviously.

Gotcha - then I'd suspect the MangoJelly tutorials at 1.5x are likely going to be perfect for you. Depending on which video I'm on I have to speed some of them up and slow some of them down, but I'm a complete novice to CAD, engineering, etc.

That's a great tip on the scanner, I've been wanting to see what was available in the world of smart phone based scanner apps, but haven't set aside the time to go explore - using a traditional scanner is a smart in between.

Yeah for 2D, a traditional scanner will beat a phone 100 out of 100 times.  No lens distortion or any of that crap.

You can also literally trace it all on big sheets of paper then go to your local Fedex Offce/Kinkos/Staples/Whatever and scan the whole sheet accurately for a few pennies.  I've done this many times.

I went with the phone route on my last big scan (floor of my van), and it caused me *way* more iterations than necessary:  https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/vanna-white-ddcampervan/271817/page1/#post3950392

That came out great and is perfect for the application (a limited set of tools and fairly generic sizes).

YT videos of full-drawer tool organizer always turn out wonderful but don't mention a potential issue. They're custom designed, with each tool having a form-fitting spot. The issue is a replacement for a lost or broken tool may well be a different size, or when a new tool is added. The choice is to either edit and reprint the entire organizer every time there's a change, or "temporarily" throw the tool into an orphan drawer, which is kinda funny since that's how the tool box started out. Point being, custom full drawer organizers are very nice but do require their own maintenance.

spandak said:

Nice work! 
 

I picked up a Ender V3 SE really cheap over the holidays and have been figuring it out. It's wild how limitless the possibilities are!

Ive been trying to figure out Fusion360 as my CAD of choice but my background is solidworks and I'm not following tutorials so my progress has been predictable. 
 

Would you see Freecad is worth it over something like F360? I don't mind learning a new system but I'm skeptical an open source program is better than a well established one...

 

edit: Creality puts their stuff on sale on eBay and sometimes eBay puts their own sale on it too. I saved ~$100 by being patient

Thank you! Er - FreeCad can do a lot, and has tons of plugins that let it do more, but I think it's always going to be weaker than a commercial alternative. Blender is a more "creative" 3d software tool, and it followed a similiar path, it's not as capable as it's commercial friends, but it's free and for most people does plenty (and is improving rapidly as more people use it). I hope FreeCad is on a similiar trajectory of improvement.

This video has a whole segment comparing all the commercial, free, etc CAD software available, I believe the answer is more of a gradiant. For me, as a hobbyist - FreeCad and what I've learned is more than enough for me at this time and the models can be exported into more advanced software if I need someone to do "real engineering" on them.

I think people understimate what you can do with a 3d printer, from making die stamps, to using it as the negative for a mold, filling an empty volume with concrete to make a very sturdy shape, etc. They really are more powerful than you realize and I've seen incredible things done.

adam525i said:

I'm getting closer and closer to getting a 3D printer and the toolbox organization would be high on my list. I've got a blow molded case/set that is decent along with a backpack for wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers but I'd really like to build my own set in a smaller, portable toolbox but with what I need for my use, I'm sick of carrying 50% sae tools that I never use for example.

I'd troll facebook marketplace or some of the classified groups to see if you can get a good deal. I've seen good printers for cheap, but the thing to keep in mind is the more expensive the printer (generally) the less fiddling you have to do. I hope I can add a "nice" printer to my fleet sometime this year, but right now, my two little ones (one I was given as it was their 6th/7th printer, the other was a very kind gift for my birthday) - they're a bit slow and don't always have the best print quality, but they're doing wonderful for now.

kb58 said:

That came out great and is perfect for the application (a limited set of tools and fairly generic sizes).

YT videos of full-drawer tool organizer always turn out wonderful but don't mention a potential issue. They're custom designed, with each tool having a form-fitting spot. The issue is a replacement for a lost or broken tool may well be a different size, or when a new tool is added. The choice is to either edit and reprint the entire organizer every time there's a change, or "temporarily" throw the tool into an orphan drawer, which is kinda funny since that's how the tool box started out. Point being, custom full drawer organizers are very nice but do require their own maintenance.

Thanks! For sure, it has a bit of overhead or "maintenance" - but most of the cost is in time, since a 15 dollar roll of filament can print many, many of these drawers, haha!
 

I use Alibre CAD, not super cheap but buy it once and own it forever, no subscription. It's fully capable and is how I modeled my CNC router.

In reply to kb58 :

lol, I'm a long way from designing a CNC machine (but it's on my list, actually) - that's super neat. How big is the cutting area on that?

For those with questions about the "capability" of FreeCad - It IS being used on fairly serious projects, this OSS 3d printer was completely designed completely in FreeCad, for example:

https://github.com/SnakeOilXY/SnakeOil-XY

I think like most tools - if you can make it work for you, the project, and the budget: it's perfect. I know of a few people that do CAD style design in Blender, and it works fine for their workflows. My professional background is in software, and people love to debate which language or IDE is "best" there as well, but really, if it works - it works; has always been my opinion.

accordionfolder said:

In reply to kb58 :

lol, I'm a long way from designing a CNC machine (but it's on my list, actually) - that's super neat. How big is the cutting area on that?...

15 x 25" or so. It's based on a 24 x 36" surface plate. 

+1 for my endorsement of Alibre Atom 3D software. I've been using it for over 10 years, and I am very happy with it. They used to have a $99 Black Friday deal, but I think the price has gone up. I modeled up a prosthetic foot, and 3D printed a prototype on my Creality Ender-3 V3 SE:

It livessss! Now I get to figure out how to model one of those wrench holder things ...

Nice!  Those sorts of things would be nice in my regular toolbox for sorting sockets and things.

Willing to share stl? I think I have the same dimension toolbox at school. 

In reply to bbbbRASS :

Absolutely! I'll upload it tomorrow, I can also share the CAD model, but I will warn you that it's definitely an amateur attempt at modeling!

In reply to Noddaz :

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6921017/files

Here's the print and FreeCad file. I will say, if you don't have my exact tools it's going to be tough to use - but just in case!

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6921023

Here's the model for the mk60e5 as well, in case anyone is needing a flat mounting bracket for one of those...

The lower drawer is turning out to be a bit of a bear, but the scanner trick is working pretty well!

Lol, these take forever to print, really hoping everything fits

So I messed up a few wrench spots, hopefully they'll self clearance, but it'll do for now!