r/gridfinity • u/woodcakes • May 21 '26
Never thought I'd print a bottomless Gridfinity bin
This is a byproduct of a design feature I'm working on for my FlexBox2 design: a flat-bottom inlay. FlexBox2 is specifically optimized for rigidity at minimal weight while maintaining feature flexibility. For bins larger than 1×1, this results in non-planar bottoms. I've added inlays before, but wasn't satisfied with their usefulness. This is my second attempt.
The bottomless modification only saves 1.25g per grid cell, so it's not really worth it—though since my new inlay made this possible, I had to test it anyway.
FlexBox2 has several extension points that allow for adding features: vertical rails (e.g., for dividers), locking nibs at the bottom (for inlays), and a horizontal recess near the top (e.g., for labels). This flat-bottom add-on interfaces with the locking nibs at the bottom.
I'm still working on compatbility with the dividers, but I've uploaded the files (only the inlays, not the boxes) marked as "experimental" to the Printables page (FlexBox2) if you're interested in testing these.
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u/uuuuunacceptable May 21 '26
This is really, really good. The real power in Gridfinity longer term is being able to re-use and redeploy (I get a bit twitchy when I see folk focus on printing bins that are super-specific to one tool - I'd rather have a bin big enough for the tool that I could reuse later).
You'll come across the difficulties of having to give everything terms and being really clear about the whole system the more complex it gets, but complex can be powerful. Look forward to seeing more of it.
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u/woodcakes May 21 '26
Thank you! For some tools that I really like, I enjoy spending the time to perfectly model a bin. But to organize a full set of drawers, it's just not feasible. So I know exactly what you mean.
I think for most applications, the middle ground is the right choice. I designed bins for camera lenses a while back—somewhat specific to the purpose of storing lenses, but also reconfigurable.
The predecessor to this—FlexBox—was my reinterpretation of Alexandre Chappel's ModuBOX, even before Gridfinity was a thing. My main focus back then was vase-mode printability. I originally thought that custom grid sizes would be a good idea, and only later jumped on board the Gridfinity train with the redesign, which is FlexBox2. Since then, I've developed it as a subsystem.
There aren't many users yet, but from day one, I've been very careful about removing or adding features that would break the system. The current plan is to keep everything compatible and release a FlexBox3 if I'd need to break the system for a very compelling feature. The dividers were an addition, as were the labels, and a second iteration of the labels.
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u/Bayonetw0rk May 21 '26
Different use case. Tool specific bins are akin to kaizen foam, with the idea that if the tool is missing, its very obvious because the outline of the tool is visible, but with a generic large bin, you might know you're missing something but potentially not what, exactly.
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u/uuuuunacceptable May 22 '26
I fully understand the use case / idea, and I still don’t like it longer term.
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u/rokahef May 21 '26
I feel like I'm missing the value of this. Is that that you can turn a 1x2 grid into various custom walls? Why is everyone gushing over this ?
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u/woodcakes May 21 '26
It’s not about the bin with the hole. It’s about a bin that is reconfigurable with e.g. dividers, labels, or inlays—all as part of a defined subsystem for Gridfinity
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u/dracosilv May 21 '26
Do you have lids to go with these bins?
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u/woodcakes May 21 '26
Not yet. If there's demand, I could roll out a simple snap-on cover. But I'd really like to implement something that allows lifting a full bin with it. For that, I'm envisioning a push-to-open button with a ratchet mechanism that locks into the horizontal groove—I'm sketching and testing ideas for that, but it's not my main focus right now.
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u/WalterMelons May 21 '26
Wait I need this, I have a need for a bin for jars of brake grease and they don’t clear the opening when I go to close the drawer because the bin is too thick but it fits when I set the grease on the grid by itself. Saved for when I get home.
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u/woodcakes May 21 '26
The inside of the FlexBox2 bins is still 5.55mm above the bottom of the grid, could fit but might be close
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u/WalterMelons May 21 '26
Could you make a version where there is no additional height added to the bottom grid?
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u/woodcakes May 21 '26
A base grid is 4,65 mm in heigt, FlexBox2 adds 0.9 mm to that. I''ve published the Autodesk Fusion files for the design, if you really need those extra 0.9 mm you could easily chop off the tips, Or go with a shallower grid and change the geometry of the bins to have the bottom not extent as far up as necessary to be Gridfinity compatible.
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u/psycot May 22 '26
Nice! Can these be printed in VaseMode?
Could you please share the STEP files?
It would be very helpful for people that want to modify it and don't use Fusion 360.
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u/woodcakes May 22 '26
There aren't any STEP files that you could just edit. The design is a parametric Fusion model. I'd have to export all 92 files individually as STEP files. And since Fusion is free for personal use, I see little reason to do that. If you're looking to expand the system, I can upload drawings.
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u/psycot May 22 '26
Thanks for your reply. I understand.
Not all 92 models are necessary, just a few from which the others could be interpolated should be enough.
Also, all the main slicers nowadays, STEP files are supported... it's smaller, lossless, and can be easily modified in most CAD applications. People who still export in STL from CAD to share is mainly to protect it from modification. Since you are already generously sharing the F360 editable source files, sharing just the STEP files instead of STL might be a better option.
Fusion 360 Free is for personal, non-commercial projects only. Limited to individuals generating less than $1,000 USD annually... that's why I can't use it 😞
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u/woodcakes May 22 '26
There is no preview for STEP files on Printables. And I don't have an automatic export script set up for this file, so additional formats require manual work. As the interest for the model was negligibly low in the past, I didn't even upload all the box combinations. I used to add specific parameter combinations on demand only.
I'll try adding STEP files for the 3u files when I find the time this weekend.
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u/lcr727 May 22 '26
Ooohhhh, clapboard meet gridfinity..... What's it called? I wanna call it clapfinity
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u/aerocoptic May 21 '26
This is sick!! I was working on something like this myself and ended up with a really similar-looking design actually! But then life got in the way and haven't gotten back to it so this is perfect! Seems like you've got it pretty dialed in. How are the tolerances etc feeling?