OpenGridMount - Custom Grid Board - (ToolGrid & Toolify3D Compatible)

OpenGridMount Customizable Base Plates

This OpenSCAD project allows you to create custom grid-mount base plates sized for your specific workshop organization needs.

Unlike some commercially available boards, OpenGridMount base plates maintain consistent hole spacing all the way to the edges. This allows multiple boards to be installed next to each other while preserving the grid pattern between them. Accessories can therefore span across two adjacent boards without encountering irregular spacing at the seam.

Because this is a parametric OpenSCAD project, you can customize features including:

• Overall board width and length

• Board thickness

• Hole diameter

• Hole spacing

• Edge spacing

• Screw-hole dimensions

• Mounting-hole placement

Click Here To View The OpenGridMount Collection

All OpenGridMount models are designed to use THESE SCREWS. As always, Test print a small section if you plan to use other screw types to ensure proper fitment.

Manual:

Before You Begin

Open the .scad file in OpenScad and enable the cusomizer panel: View>Customizer

All measurements are in millimeters unless otherwise noted.

For best results start by generating and printing the included Fit-Test pieces before printing an entire drawer. This fit test is generated using your set preferences for clearance and hole diameter, plus two larger and two smaller sizes so you can print with confidence and find the fit that you like best.

1 - Choose What To Generate

Complete Tile Set

Generates every tile required to fill the selected drawer or work area.

This may include:

• Front Tiles

• Interior Tiles

• Side Tiles

• Back Tiles

• Corner Tiles

Single Standard Tile

Generates one standard full-size tile

This is useful for:

• Testing print quality

• Checking hole dimensions

• Creating a small standalone board

• Verifying connector placement

All Full Size Tiles

Generates only the standard full-size tiles and excludes the smaller side, back, and corner pieces.

Side, Back, or Corner

Generates only the selected edge-piece type, These options are useful when exporting individual STL files.

Loose Double Connector

Generates a removable connector designed to join two female socket edges.

Single Connector Fit Test

Generates one male and one female test coupon using the currently selected connector clearance

Multi-Clearance Test Strip

Generates:

• One shared female socket rail

• Five separate male test coupons with different clearances

• five screw fit test holes of different diameters.

The selected connector clearance and grid-hole diameter are market with brackets.

For example:

• 0.00

• 0.05

• [0.10]

• 0.15

• 0.20

2 -Enter the Drawer or Work-Area Dimensions

Set:

• Overall Area Width

• Overall Area Length

Measure the usable inside area rather than the outside dimensions of the drawer. The script divides this area into standard tiles and creates smaller edge pieces to fill the remaining space. The generated board may be slightly smaller than the entered dimensions because tile sizes must remain aligned to the mounting-hole grid.

Check OpenSCAD console for the calculated dimensions

3 - Select the Standard Tile Size

The standard tile width and length are target values. The script adjusts these values to the nearest complete grid spacing so every tile ends at the correct point between mounting holes.

For example, with a 9.5 mm grid spacing the file tile size will always be a multiple of 9.5.

Larger standard tiles reduce the total number of pieces but they require a larger printer bed.

Smaller Tiles:

• Fit more printers

• are easier to replace individually

• require more connectors and assembly.

4 -Maximum Edge-Tile Size

The maximum edge width and length control when the script combines a narrow remainder with a neighboring tile. This helps prevent extremely thin strips from being generated along the side or back of a drawer.

Increasing these values allows the script to create larger combined edge pieces.

Do not set the Maximum values to close to the standard tile dimensions. The script requires enough additional room for the connector geometry. 

5 -Tile Thickness & Lightweight Recess

Tile Thickness

This controls the total thickness of the board and the connector pieces. The default is 8 mm. A minimum thickness of approximately 6mm is recommended depending on your printed material and screw length. 

Thicker boards are stronger but require more filament and printing time.

Lightweight Recess

When enabled, material is removed from the underside of each tile while leaving support ribs around the grid holes. 

This Reduces:

• Filament use

• Printing time

• Finished Weight

Recess Floor Thickness

Recess floor thickness is the thickness of material left at the bottom of each recessed section. A thicker floor provides more strength, a thinner floor reduces filament use buy may flex more easily.

Recess Chamfer

The chamfer creates a sloped transition around the recessed areas. Very large chamfers may not work correctly on unusually narrow edge tiles. Always inspect narrow side, back and corner pieces before printing. 

6. Grid-Hole Settings

Grid-Hole Diameter

This controls the diameter of every accessory mounting hole.

The default is: 4.2mm

Actual printed hole size can vary due to:

• Printer calibration

• Filament type

• Extrusion settings

• Layer height

• Hole orientation

Use the multi-clearance test strip to test nearby hole sizes before committing to a full board.

The screw-test holes are generated automatically around the selected grid-hole diameter.

With a selected diameter of 4.2 mm and a 0.2 mm test step, the strip contains:

• 3.8 mm

• 4.0 mm

• [4.2 mm]

• 4.4 mm

• 4.6 mm

The bracketed hole is the currently selected grid-hole diameter.

Grid-Hole Spacing

This is the center-to-center distance between neighboring mounting holes.

The default is: 9.5mm

The script positions the first and last holes half of one grid spacing from the tile edges.

Because of this, the distance between holes across two connected tiles remains equal to the distance between holes on one continuous tile.

With 9.5 mm spacing:

• The final hole on the first tile is 4.75 mm from the edge.

• The first hole on the next tile is 4.75 mm from its edge.

• The total center-to-center distance across the seam is 9.5 mm.

Accessories can therefore span across tile seams without changing their hole spacing.

7. Connector Settings

Each edge can be configured independently as:

• Male

• Female

• None

The default arrangement is designed so neighboring tiles alternate between matching male pegs and female sockets.

Connector Diameter

This is the nominal female socket diameter.

Connector Clearance

Clearance is removed from the male peg diameter.

For example:

Connector diameter: 4.0 mm
Connector clearance: 0.2 mm
Male peg diameter: 3.8 mm

The clearance value is the total diameter difference, not the clearance on each side.

A 0.2 mm diameter difference creates approximately 0.1 mm of clearance around each side of the peg.

Suggested starting values:

• 0.10 mm: very tight

• 0.15 mm: firm fit

• 0.20 mm: reliable general-purpose fit

• 0.25–0.30 mm: easier assembly

• 0.40 mm or more: potentially loose

PLA on a well-calibrated printer may work with 0.10–0.20 mm.

PETG may require slightly more clearance.

Always print the connector test before printing a complete drawer.

8. Using the Multi-Clearance Test

The multi-clearance test is centered around the currently selected connector clearance.

For example, with:

Selected clearance: 0.10 mm
Test step: 0.05 mm

the test creates:

0.00
0.05
[0.10]
0.15
0.20

Each male coupon can be pressed into a matching socket on the shared female rail.

The bracketed value is the clearance currently selected for the full board.

Test each peg and choose the fit you prefer.

A good connector should:

• Insert without excessive force

• Hold the tiles together

• Remain removable without damaging the connector

• Avoid noticeable side-to-side movement

After testing, enter the preferred value as the connector clearance before generating the full tile set.

9. Screw and Grid-Hole Test Section

The shared socket rail includes five labeled through-holes.

These holes are based on the selected grid-hole diameter:

• Two slightly smaller

• One exact selected size

• Two slightly larger

The selected size is enclosed in brackets.

Use these holes to test:

• Screws

• Printed accessory pegs

• Pins

• Rivets

• Other mounting hardware

Use the hole that gives the desired fit, then update the grid-hole diameter in the Customizer.

Remember that the printed result may differ slightly from the modeled diameter.

10. Exploded View

Enable Show Exploded View to separate the tiles visually in OpenSCAD and helps with slicers "Seperate Parts" option.

The Exploded Tile Spacing setting controls the gap between the displayed tile bodies.

This spacing affects only the layout shown in OpenSCAD.

It does not change:

• Tile dimensions

• Hole alignment

• Connector position

• Final assembled spacing

Disable the exploded view to preview the tiles in their assembled positions.

11. Assembly Position Labels

Assembly labels identify where every physical tile belongs.

Labels use a row-column format:

1-1  1-2  1-3
2-1  2-2  2-3
3-1  3-2  3-3

The first number is the row.

The second number is the column.

For example:

• 1-1 is the installed top-left tile.

• 1-2 is directly to its right.

• 2-1 is directly below 1-1.

The boards are printed upside down and flipped into their installed orientation. The script compensates for this when creating the labels.

Labels may optionally include the tile type:

Front 1-1
Side 2-3
Back 3-1
Corner 3-3

Position labels are disabled automatically when Export Unique Parts Only is enabled because one exported piece may represent several different positions.

12. Export Unique Parts Only

When disabled, the script generates every physical tile required for the complete layout.

When enabled, the script generates only one example of each unique tile design and engraves the required quantity.

For example:

Front x3
Side x2
Back x3
Corner x1

This mode is useful when you want to:

• Export one STL for each tile type

• Set the required quantity in your slicer

• Avoid exporting many identical copies

Do not use this mode when you need assembly-position labels.

13. Exporting the Parts

For the easiest workflow:

1. Select one part type.

2. Render the model with F6.

3. Export it as an STL.

4. Repeat for each required tile type.

You may also use Export Unique Parts Only and export one copy of each design.

The quantity engraved into each part indicates how many copies should be placed in the slicer.

Preview colors are used only to distinguish tile types in OpenSCAD.

They do not affect the exported STL or the filament color.

14. Recommended Print Settings

These are general starting points and may need adjustment for your printer.

• Material: PLA, PETG, or another dimensionally stable filament

• Layer height: 0.20 mm

• Walls: 3 or more

• Top and bottom layers: 4 or more

• Infill: Low infill is normally sufficient because the tile includes support webs

• Supports: Normally not required

• Orientation: Print with the visible grid face against the build plate, as designed by the model

Use the same filament and print settings for the fit test and the final boards.

Changing filament, layer height, wall count, or extrusion settings can change the connector fit.

15. Before Printing a Complete Drawer

Before committing to the full layout:

1. Print the connector-clearance test.

2. Test the screw and grid-hole sizes.

3. Enter the preferred values in the Customizer.

4. Generate the complete tile set.

5. Disable the exploded view and inspect the assembled layout.

6. Confirm that every side, back, and corner tile is visible.

7. Inspect very narrow edge pieces carefully.

8. Render each part with F6 before exporting.

9. Check the OpenSCAD console for warnings or errors.

Very unusual drawer dimensions may create extremely narrow edge pieces or merged corner pieces. Standard drawer sizes with reasonably wide remainder sections should generate normally, but every custom layout should be inspected before printing.

16. Important Notes

• The model dimensions are mathematically aligned, but actual fit depends on printer accuracy.

• Printed holes may be smaller than their modeled diameter.

• Connector fit may change between filament types.

• The exploded-view gap is not part of the finished geometry.

• Tile colors are preview-only.

• The test coupons use the same tile thickness and connector geometry as the full boards.

• Hole spacing remains consistent across tile seams.

• Always render and inspect custom dimensions before starting a large print.