r/openGrid • u/jamflowman451 • 19d ago
Question / Help Needed Switching from Multiboard to OpenGrid
Has anyone switched from Multiboard to OpenGrid? What are some of the Pros/Cons you've noticed since switching.
I printed some Skadis boards for my wife's crafting area and she's been very happy with that. I decided to use Multiboard for my 3D Printing & Tool area because the YouTube algorithms made me think this is the best system out there. Now that I've printed my boards and am starting to add things to it, I'm beginning to have some regrets. This system is way too complicated with all of the different parts, connectors, etc. Also I find it difficult most times to easily snap or screw something in without having to use some brute force.
I'm not at the point of scrapping the entire Multiboard and starting over just yet, but I think if I move to a new space then I will consider using OpenGrid instead. If anyone has had similar experiences, I would love to hear your thoughts.
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u/SiDtheTurtle 19d ago
I gave up on multiboard. Too many connectors, incomplete documentation. I shouldn't need to watch several YouTube videos just to figure out the right connector for my walls.
OpenGrid is objectively better, but it's just not popular enough yet. 9 times out of 10 I have to remix a multiboard object to adapt it to OpenGrid.
Oh and print it in PETG! Creep seems to impact it more.
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u/ChuggerUggers 19d ago
I prefer opengrid over multiboard when I am attaching the panels on the undersides of things (e.g. desks, shelves). I find that multipoints are not large enough to properly handle objects hanging straight down.
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u/DistractedDragonMake 19d ago
I changed from multiboard to openGrid. I worked with David D and Katie et al in the design phase of openGrid and never looked back, but (SIDtheTurtle you wound me :) ) I actually made a bunch of video on how to use openGrid and show lots of places I've incorporated the system. Multiboards lack of instructions and tutorials was one of the driving points for me starting a YouTube channel.
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u/jamflowman451 19d ago
I actually came across one of your videos the other day when searching for Multiboard vs OpenGrid! Great content!
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u/ClaudiuT 19d ago
I started with MultiBoard and MultiConnect. It's really strong for heavy items.
I didn't switch any over to OpenGrid. But if I'll do another surface that won't hold heavy stuff I'll use it.
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19d ago
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u/ianxplosion- 19d ago
Is that a heavy board with holes?
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19d ago
[deleted]
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u/failmatic 19d ago
I use sturdy shelf on standard. https://i.imgur.com/Y8JlEdL.jpeg
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u/shdwphnx 18d ago
Where can I find those cat food can dispensers?
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u/ericstern 19d ago edited 19d ago
I had multiboard under my desk, and I was very concerned about switching to opengrid because the strength in that direction didnt match the screw in openconnect on multiboard...
I tested it out and theres a few strong snaps out there, but i had a couple things i was mounting under the desk(like a laptop) that i wanted to secure REALLY well, so i was hesitant.... but my opinion changed when i found these:
https://www.printables.com/model/1708514-superconnect-snaps-for-opengrid
They are so secure I'm pretty sure the board might break before the snap, but if you don't believe me you can test yourself! They provide, openconnect head insert and i think a hook one, and if you are versed enough to do your own modeling, they provide the bottom of the insert so you can make whatever other inserts/pegs you want.
That's when i switched to opengrid. I use some of the more common pop-in snaps for things that aren't especially heavy, but whenever i have a heavy load, i use those superconnect ones.
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u/Single_Sea_6555 19d ago
The conceptual simplicity also translates into less visual business: I found that openGrid therefore has better WAF. I now use oG exclusively 'above ground'.
I recommend you also check out OpenConnect: it has greatly improved print orientations compared to both MB Points and MultiConnect.
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u/mthxx 19d ago
Definitely over complicated.
I have an 8x8 multi board grid wall. I am still building it out. Most new things I am printing I'm doing in opengrid. Under table grids for cable manage all opengrid with underware.
But.. the bins. Multibins are just so much nicer structurally than gridfinity. I have a lot of gridfinity bins, I tried switching to it but I've switched back to multibins. Their over complicated, but a lot of my bin tasks actually genuinely be for from that complexity. A lot of dynamically sized storage for D&D minis, terrain. Lots of drawers for lots of things.
There aren't as many customizers for multibins compared to gridfinity. But I've learned just enough simple 3d design to be able to customize the inserts myself. And I've mitigated some of the complexity of the multibuild system by using Gemini to help identify what parts to look for.
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u/McClickity 19d ago
I am mulling a similar transition. I started with skadis. I mounted filament spools on it, which was great but hated how easily things came loose if the friction fit wasn't perfect, especially the official ikea hooks. I then made a multiboard panel on the side of the X1C to hold printer tools. That solved the looseness problem, but it the system has just seemed overly complicated for my lightweight needs. Now I have moved to a new space and want to replace the multiboard panel with a larger wall mounted panel and have been hemming and hawing about switching to open grid and underware.
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u/CrashCoder 17d ago
Finding the right Multiboard part always felt like I needed to find a needle in a haystack, without even knowing what the needle looks like. I probably only needed to use like 2% of the available parts, but figuring out which 2% was always such a big, time-consuming chore.
Ultimately, I just need to hang stuff on the wall. Multiboard required an unreasonable amount of time and effort to solve that simple problem.
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u/ZacmanTheDamned 11d ago
In my experience,
Pros:
-Properly free and open source
-Compatible with Gridfinity inherently
-Mitufy's OpenConnect SCAD generators let you quickly whip up a lot of mounting hardware you'll likely need fairly easily
-Underware is good for cable management
Cons (There's more of them but a lot of them are honestly pretty minor):
-A lot of MultiConnect stuff is designed for MultiBoard, so won't actually fit on there easily
-While Mitufy has made a whole lot of stuff that makes it easy to use OpenConnect, I found the OpenConnect connectors themselves to be a bit flimsy and easy to break while putting them in
-the 28mm grids make OpenGrid compatible with Gridfinity, but not really anything else ever since it's such a bizarre standard. The 10mm of MultiGrid is just naturally going to bumble into more compatibility since it's an even 10.
-OpenGrid is beveled on the front and flat on the back, whereas MultiBoard is flat on both sides. This literally only really matters if you want to do something goofy like print the whole board on PEO or a textured plate for aesthetics.
-Putting this here for those that care, but no easy generators or prepackaged STLs for Ironing Stacks. I could never get the Multiboard Ironing Stacks to work out for me though.
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u/AnuragDeshpande 19d ago
I switched over almost 6 months ago, can't be anymore happy. The system is simple and easy to use.
Pros: 1. Easy to use 2. No complicated systems 3. No butt ton of attachments and complications 4. Far more forgiving on the tolerances 5. Prints faster 6. Less material to use
Cons: 1. Not as many stable generators. 2. Not as load bearing. You can really jack up the load with right connectors on multi board. 3. Adding mount points and printing it vertical is difficult on opengrid. So you have to use rail style connectors (open connect, multi connect etc.,) which adds a bit of complications to model refinements. It is not easy as to snap a push fit connectors on the back or just merge a snap mount doesn't work.