While my random set of screwdrivers has served me well, it made sense to order a set of good screwdrivers. After exploring various options I ordered a 12 piece set of Tekton screwdrivers.
When they showed up ldiscovered they were bigger than expected. After playing with different layout options it was clear that this set would require an entire drawer. Further, the longer screwdrivers were too big to go in the drawer side to side, so the set had to go in front to back. Fortunately I now have enough tool chest space that I can dedicate a full drawer to this screwdriver set. Off to the CAD system!
The drawer is larger than my 3D printer, so this bin will have to be printed in four parts. Up until now this would mean creating four separate bins in the GridFinity Generator and then doing custom cutouts in each bin.
I’ve been taking an online course on Fusion and learned a new trick. I could create a single large bin the size of the full drawer, create all of the cutouts, and then use a cutting plane to cut it into pieces to print.
So I did exactly that – create a large bin and make all of the cutouts for the screwdrivers in this single bin. I also picked up another trick – creating a midplane between two parallel faces. Using the midplane command reduced this whole pricess to four clicks: select the midplane command, select a face on one end of the bin, select a face on the other end of the bin, and hit done. Bingo, a new plane exactly in the middle of the bin!
Select the Fusion split body command, select the bin, select the midplane we just created, and hit done. Result: two halves of the bin, ready to print.
Well, not quite ready – we need this particular bin cut into quarters. Repeat the process creating a midplane on the other two side of the bin, select the midplane and the body, and use the split body command again. Remember to select both halves of the body or you will just split one half of it…
Now we have four pieces that will fit on the printer. Print them out, drop them in the drawer, and add screwdrivers.
After using the organized screwdrivers I’m happy with the work. Knowing where each screwdriver is – and where it put it back – is easier than the old drawer piled full of screwdrivers. It does takes up more drawer space than the old pile approach. And is worth it!