How to make a box
- Pick the lid. Push-on for everyday storage, magnetic for a lid that snaps shut, sliding for a pencil-case style box, or the hinge for a box whose lid can’t get lost.
- Enter the size. Inside size if something must fit in it; outside size if the box must fit somewhere.
- Add dividers and a label if you like – the label is engraved into the lid.
- Download and print as laid out. Box and lid come in one file, already in the right orientation. No supports needed.
Recommended print settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | PLA or PETG |
| Layer height | 0.2 mm (0.16 mm gives a smoother hinge) |
| Walls | 3 |
| Infill | 15–20% |
| Orientation | As downloaded |
| Supports | None |
| First layer | Well levelled – elephant’s foot can fuse a print-in-place hinge |
For drawer organisers and modular storage, the Grid Bench makes Gridfinity bins.
Frequently asked questions
Are the sizes inside or outside?
Your choice. “Inside” makes the space inside the box exactly the size you type – what you want when something has to fit in it. “Outside” makes the whole box, lid on, exactly that size – what you want when the box has to fit in a drawer or shelf.
How does the print-in-place hinge print?
The box prints upright with the lid lying open behind it, joined only by the hinge. Nothing touches – there is at least 0.3 mm between every moving surface – so after printing you just swing the lid shut. If the first swing is stiff, work it back and forth a few times. It needs a box at least about 12 mm tall.
The lid is too tight or too loose – what do I change?
Clearance. 0.25 mm suits most well-tuned printers for a push-on lid. Raise it by 0.05–0.1 mm if the lid won’t go on or the hinge is fused; lower it if the lid falls off. For the hinge, don’t go below 0.25 mm.
Which magnets do I need?
Four disc magnets of the size you pick for the box and four for the lid – eight in total. 6 × 2 mm is the common cheap neodymium size. Glue them in with a drop of superglue and check the polarity so the lid attracts rather than repels.
How does the sliding lid stay in?
Its edges are cut at 45° and run in matching grooves in the side and back walls, so it can only slide out through the front. The front wall is lower so the lid passes over it. The walls are made at least 2.8 mm thick to leave room for the grooves.
Can I label the box?
Yes – type a label and it is engraved into the top of the lid, sized to fit. Push-on, magnetic and hinged lids print top-down, so the letters come out crisp against the smooth bed surface (the file is already mirrored the right way). For coloured letters, rub in paint or wax and wipe the surface clean.