Pen Bushing Storage Rack and Drawers

Description

This design was prompted by the failure of another attempt at storing pen bushings.  It was a generic divided storage model with a slide-on lid.  I received two for Christmas one year from a friend of mine.  They were printed in PLA and worked ok until I dropped one and broke the lid, and then left them both in the back seat of my truck by accident in the middle of July.  This resembled that scene in RoboCop where Emil stumbles out of the van after hitting the toxic waste vat.  I was crushed!  It did, however, give me a lot of ideas for what I do and do not want in a bushing storage system.

A lot of commercial options use clumsy spindles that are prone to breaking or loss, and typically not suitable for portability.  I wanted something that I could pack up and take to a pen turning class at the makerspace.  *PARAMETRIC MODELING INTENSIFIES*

What resulted is a full set of models that produce drawers with snap-on lids and glue-on pulls, a storage enclosure that can either be hung on the wall via the keyholes in the back, or placed on your bench top, including the 3D printed feet.  There are also recesses in the top, in case you have an addiction to different pen models and possess more than the 36 minimum large bushing sets  to 72 maximum small bushing sets each enclosure can hold!  That's right, it's EXPANDABLE and STACKABLE!  Each compartment can optionally be used with a divider, depending on the size of your bushing set.  IT SLICES!  IT DICES!  IT MAKES JULIENNE FRIES!*

(*Disclaimer:  It does not, in fact, slice, dice, or make Julienne fries)

Printing

Where possible, you should print all but the feet in PETG.  If you desire, you can print those in PETG as well if you like to simulate stick hockey or something on your workshop table (I don't know what you do, no judgement here), but I prefer TPU. 

To make a complete set, you need to print the following:

• (1) enclosure

• (4) drawers

• (4) lids

• (4) drawer pulls

• (4) feet

• OOPSIE: (4) foot spacers

There's individual STL's and a Bambu-centric file with all models plated for your convenience.

Materials

You've made it this far.  This is what we in the biz, and I guess Blues Traveler, call "the hook".  I have no idea what biz I'm referring to, for the record.  You're going to need to purchase some hardware if you're using the feet.  These are coarse thread #4-24x1/4" 'murica (SAE) and #4 washers that I had laying around from another project (thanks, executive dysfunction!), but M2.5x6 screws with M2.5 washers will likely work too.  The pilot hole is small enough that it should accommodate both; we can all be friends here.  You'll need (4) of each, but the good news is that's all the hardware this requires.  If you're wall hanging, I'd recommend a pan head but let's face it, you're probably going to ignore me and use a drywall screw anyway.  (See also Assembly: Whoops!)

Assembly

There's not much to it.  I'd use some thick CA glue to put the drawer pulls on, which you probably have anyway since you're pen turning.  Let that dry/cure/whatever.  The lid just snaps onto the captive base, which is another reason I recommend PETG here because you'll need to flex it slightly to snap it on. 

Use the dividers as you see fit to organize your bushings and I attach the labels to the lid.  I get fancy with small clear mailing labels but you can probably just tape on the label you cut out from your bags if you're starting to have withdrawals already. (HANG IN THERE!)

Screw the feet onto the bottom into the provided pilot hole.  Do not use screws that are too long as they will interfere with the operation of the bottom drawer with an annoying scritch-scratch and a back track of you swearing.  If you don't know how to use screws, I likely can't help you.  You probably took a wrong turn here looking for the "hamsterdance" page.  Remember that old gem?  Sorry in advance.  I'm probably dating myself.

Assembly: Whoops!

This is like a wrong turn in a Choose Your Own Adventure! book.  Let's say you heard that scritch-scratch and added your own back track to it.  Your screws are too long, or because you're too cheap (guilty), you only had 3/8" or 10mm length laying around and have blown out those holes on the bottom.  Not that I, uh, did, that...or anything.  ANHYHOW, moving on!  I've included a spacer stl.  Just print a set of these to offset your screws a bit and glue them into the bottom recesses with a touch of that CA again.  Hopefully that's the end of it.  

Final Thoughts

Assuming you've mitigated any aforementioned issues, slide your completed drawers into the enclosure and you're good to go.  Happy turning.  You can probably use this for some other small parts organizer.  Other old person hobbies include but not limited to: Electronics parts junk bins, fly fishing paraphernalia, ultra medicated person pill organizers, random tooth collections.

Also, yes, that's a trampoline I used as a picture backdrop.  I know what I am.