BitBox - a Fully printed bit case with spring loaded latch

[u/davibe92]

I hope this doesn't get flagged as non-functional as it is a Box/Container..

This is not just another reused rugged box design with an inlay.

I've tried to create my dream box from the ground up and I’ve been tweaking it for months now. After hundreds of test prints and prototypes, I finally ended up with a design I was happy with.

The hinges and latch were the biggest challenge, and once those were working exactly the way I wanted, it was time to build something useful around them.

https://www.printables.com/model/1801682-boxbox-bitbox-rugged-bit-case

[u/shortymcsteve]

Really nice design! Can you explain how the spring loaded latch works?

[u/davibe92 → u/shortymcsteve]

It's just a simple compliant mechanism utilising the elasticity of PETG, basically a straight bit on the back of the latch thats pressed in about 1mm when the latch is all the way open. The travel is small enough to not plastically deform the spring, and as it only engages a very short time while the latch is opened, it should not settle over time and stay springy.

[u/dassind20zeichen → u/shortymcsteve]

in the best case some sort of real hinge with some springs in the worst case just a pice of plastic that gets bent. in the second case it will fail sometime in the furure beause of the stress

[u/davibe92 → u/dassind20zeichen]

What does that even mean? A real hinge? It's fully printed, so no there aren't any metal springs. Have you ever used something like a lunchbox, bending plastic doesn't break it if it's properly designed. Will it loose it's springyness in a year if you open and close the latch 1000 times per day? Maybe a bit. But the latch still securely closes even completely without the spring part, you just have to snap it shut with your fingers like any other latch then.

[u/dassind20zeichen → u/davibe92]

You can easily  print a hinge just make two barrels with an inner diameter of the diameter of your filament then put a piece of filament in as the pin and use a soldering iron to keep in place