I've been working on some small updates to current designs, as well as a fix to the 16 Bin (6U) Gridfinity Box For Stuff. First, the fix was to repair a problem with a through hole that was not a through hole in the model of the 16Bin case. This hole is where the handle screws into the base of the case, and is now fixed at both Printables and MakerWorld. There was a glitch with the 3mf profile on MakerWorld, which did not get fixed until today. Thanks to user_2916867828 (at MakerWorld) for letting me know about the problem.
The other updates relate to the gaskets for the 1x2, 4x5 and 5x5 Gridfinity Boxes for Stuff. When I was working on the 1x2 Gridfinity Watch case, I decided to make the gasket wider, since the stock gasket size seemed thin. The wider gasket fit well and was easier to install, so I thought it would be worth updating the existing models to use it. The pic below shows the difference, with the new wider gasket on the left and the thinner (current version) gasket on the right.
The other updates relate to the gaskets for the 1x2, 4x5 and 5x5 Gridfinity Boxes for Stuff. When I was working on the 1x2 Gridfinity Watch case, I decided to make the gasket wider, since the stock gasket size seemed thin. The wider gasket fit well and was easier to install, so I thought it would be worth updating the existing models to use it. The pic below shows the difference, with the new wider gasket on the left and the thinner (current version) gasket on the right.
I don't know if this will help with the water resistance, but I think it looks better and probably makes a better "seal" - though the gaskets are not water tight - since there are too many factors that go into that.
The gasket is also going to be a few mm thicker, since it was suggested on Reddit that possibly some hollow space would add some squish (and make for a better seal). I think the only way to make the seal more water resistant, is to use a more compliant TPU, or cast it in silicone, but those are both expensive and messy options.
The 1x2 gasket is the same as what I used on the watch case, so I don't need to test that one. I plan to test print the 4x5 20 Bin version, before posting it, but I don't think I will test the 5x5 version, since I have no use currently for that size (if it is posted there will be a notice that it is untested). The changes to the gasket design will not modify the outside dimensions of any of the boxes, and are pretty minor updates, however the current versions of the base and top will not be compatible with the newer versions with the larger seals. I will post on this blog when the updated designs are uploaded.
Update 5/6/2024: The new larger TPU gasket design for the 20Bin (4x5) Box For Stuff is done now, but I still need to give it a test and then prep the files to be uploaded. This design is identical to the existing version, aside from the new gasket design. The improved gasket is also easier to install. The middle pic shows the new version in white on the left, and the old version in black on the right. When the models are updated on MakerWorld and Printables, I will post a link here.
The gasket is also going to be a few mm thicker, since it was suggested on Reddit that possibly some hollow space would add some squish (and make for a better seal). I think the only way to make the seal more water resistant, is to use a more compliant TPU, or cast it in silicone, but those are both expensive and messy options.
The 1x2 gasket is the same as what I used on the watch case, so I don't need to test that one. I plan to test print the 4x5 20 Bin version, before posting it, but I don't think I will test the 5x5 version, since I have no use currently for that size (if it is posted there will be a notice that it is untested). The changes to the gasket design will not modify the outside dimensions of any of the boxes, and are pretty minor updates, however the current versions of the base and top will not be compatible with the newer versions with the larger seals. I will post on this blog when the updated designs are uploaded.
Update 5/6/2024: The new larger TPU gasket design for the 20Bin (4x5) Box For Stuff is done now, but I still need to give it a test and then prep the files to be uploaded. This design is identical to the existing version, aside from the new gasket design. The improved gasket is also easier to install. The middle pic shows the new version in white on the left, and the old version in black on the right. When the models are updated on MakerWorld and Printables, I will post a link here.
Update 5/14/2024: Thanks to some really helpful feedback from a user over on Printables, who is making the 5x5 version of the case, using a large nozzle and large layers, I may make another small update to the design which I'm working on. I've been printing these using a 0.4mm nozzle, and a baseline 0.2mm layer height, which is not fast for such a large project. The upside of using that standard resolution, is that it allows for everything to fit well, and I have not had a problem yet with the many prototypes I've printed using those settings. Using thicker layers and larger nozzles saves time, but consequently means lower resolution, and possible smaller clearances than designed, due to slicing tolerance. There are other possible issues such as flow or k-value calibration, which can directly lead to problems with fit as well, but those are not something I can design around. But I may be able to add some tiny extra amount of slop to the design, to help folks using large nozzles, so I'm gonna make a small change to the design. Specifically, I'm gonna widen out the inside to give 0.75mm clearance around the bins, vs the approx 0.5mm clearance currently. The pics below show the current design with 0.493mm of clearance at the bottom of the case, which tapers up to 0.75mm at the top. I will probably just make it 0.75mm all the way to the bottom, and remove the taper.
I think that once that change is done, the updated cases will be ready to be uploaded. I may release the 5x5 (25bin) first though, since I think somebody is waiting for the update and then I will probably run yet another 20bin to test and then upload that version later. The changes are pretty minor, and include the following:
Update 6/15/2024: The 25Bin case has been updated to the new v2.3 design, and the 20Bin case should be posted very soon (I only have to test one more part). The only significant change is to the gasket, which is much thicker now. I also plan to provide a mold for making a silicone gasket, however I have not been able to test that idea yet.
20 Bin Gridfinity Box For Stuff v2.3 on MakerWorld and Printables (uploaded 6/29/2024)
25 Bin Gridfinity Box For Stuff v2.3 at Printables
- Thicker and wider gasket which is also easier to install
- Adding an additional 0.25mm clearance around the outside perimeter of the bins on the inside of the case
Update 6/15/2024: The 25Bin case has been updated to the new v2.3 design, and the 20Bin case should be posted very soon (I only have to test one more part). The only significant change is to the gasket, which is much thicker now. I also plan to provide a mold for making a silicone gasket, however I have not been able to test that idea yet.
20 Bin Gridfinity Box For Stuff v2.3 on MakerWorld and Printables (uploaded 6/29/2024)
25 Bin Gridfinity Box For Stuff v2.3 at Printables
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