Modular Cereal Box Drybox

Parametric hub adapters now available.

Description

This is a drybox I have been working to make on and off for the past… year now (eeek!). Since getting my Neptune 4 Plus about six months ago I started focusing on the design and getting it done. Some of my main criteria:

• Minimal cost (I got a set of six for USD $21 on sale. FYI this specific one at Amazon).

• Simple construction.

• Non-destructive. (I can more easily justify purchasing some if I can wash them up and put them back to holding cereal, etc.).

• Minimal hardware needs. Aside from the hygrometer, all parts are 3D-printed. No need to spend money at the hardware store.

• Works at odd angles. For the Neptune 4 Plus, the spool is normally placed above the printer at an angle. So I wanted this box to work well when upside down at about a 45° angle and also when sideways or in a normal upright position.

• Not require 608 or other bearings. Early on I've been avoiding bearings on my spool holders, as a friend hit problems with tangles due to things spinning too freely. This drybox can use standard bearings, but does not require them (and I am not using them).

• Modular - I'm not sure what all I might need, or what the best configuration for holding desiccant is, so I wanted to ensure flexibility and ease of reuse.

For basic construction print two of the side panels, two pivots (unless you want to use 608 bearings), one shaft, two side adapters, one top rim, and one bottom plate and four of the rollers to snap into the side panels. I have an optional mount to use a common hygrometer that allows it to rotate to match the angle you have the box at.

The cereal box will provide the main strength in holding things together.

Soon I will be finishing a few different modules to hold desiccant that will slide in to the top and/or the bottom.

The files should be set in the orientation for best printing, although feel free to match your needs. The main thing is that since the mount (for a hygrometer) is a rotating print-in-place piece, you should try to print it either straight up or straight down (saves time and filament, but reduces aesthetic quality on the front).

I've included .step files as I've been using them more for OrcaSlicer as of late.

Construction Note:

After printing the shaft I used standard M12 nuts to shave it down into proper fitting. Using two from opposite ends and turning them at the same time smoothed things out quickly (and was cheaper than buying a threading die from my local hardware store (USD$11-USD$20).

Modules:

• Upper desiccant holder.

• Lower desiccant fin holders.

• Inset lid that allows for easier stacking.

• Minimal lids (for round or triangular tops)

• Mini swatches and clips for sides of boxes.

• new parametric hub adapters that hold a spool only from the side and do not need the center shaft/bolt.

• Fixed hygrometer mount.

• Auto-rewind hub.

Coming soon:

More sizes for the spool hub adapters - Done

Improved lid that would also allow for stacking. - Done

Updates:

Jul 17, 2025

Updated to hold better if heat or age starts causing the cereal container to start bowing.

• Side panel now has clips to hold the pivot or 608 bearing in place better in order to reduce it pulling free if the outer container starts to bow.

• Hub adapters have been updated to match.

Mar 7, 2025

• New parametric custom hub adapters for different spools available.

Mar 5, 2025

• updated the side panels to no longer have the top rollers by default. Now a separate item.

V1.2 - Feb 16, 2025

• changed to use hinges at top and bottom to make changing filament and desiccant easier

• Added clips to where either the ‘pivot’ or a 608 bearing goes to hold them in place when not closed up in the drybox

Older

• Added a link to the specific cereal containers I had bought.

• Uploaded a variant of the lid that has the fitting inset to allow for stacking of boxes when not in use. Includes a clip to help keep filament from sliding back in when removed from PTFE tubing.