Introduction: Resistor Organizer

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About: I love simplicity, function and precision job!

Hello my dear friends! :)

When I was making some electronics devices, prototypes on breadboard and I needed to connect some resistors it was always trouble with searching the right one for me. I had one big ugly box with all the resistors in it. One day I said NO! So I was searching what to do with it... I found that the 10ml plastic lab test tubes has the right shape to store the resistors. So I ordered some, made CAD file of rack for the lab tubes, 3D printed it and sort the resistor by its value. Voila! My problem has been solved and it is so helpful, that I would like to share the plans with you!

Step 1: What Is Needed?

Lets start with things you need to make it.

  • Several pieces of 10ml lab test tubes
  • Possibility to 3D print
  • OpenSCAD for the customization of model
  • Super glue
  • Labels
  • Resistors

And, also a little bit of patience and time (and chocolate) :)

I also ordered kit of THT resistor from ebay. The kit contains 600pcs of 30values of resistors, so my rack is for 30 tubes. :)

Step 2: CAD Model

Once I have received the tubes I started designing the rack. I chose to use OpenSCAD, as it is free software. In the world of OpenSCAD I am quite new (about one week). I took it as good experience and good start to discovery what i can a how it can. So I started modeling thetube first. Then the several tries of designing racks followed, once I was satisfied with it. Then I reduced the code, edited it and I made it customizable. The final version of model is in the attached files (ResistorRack.scad). In the first few lines is the customizable section, which allows you to set number of rows, columns and spacing between the tubes. Once the customization is done you export the file as STL. I divided it into three parts. Bottom, upper part and the corners, which holds the bottom and the upper part. The selection of what you want to render is also in header section of code. The pictures will show more specifically.

So, we have done the CAD model with STL export, so, there is no barrier to make it real. Send it to the 3D printer! I printed it every single part separately with PLA material and settings of one bottom solid layer, two top solid layers, 20% infill with 0.2mm layer and 0.4mm extruder. The result surprisedme! Now, the only thing to build the rack is to glue the parts together. I used ordinary super glue.

P.S. while you do not have a OpenSCAD it is easy to get it :) But if you do not want any differences from my design there are the STL files, also. :) Or I can generate it for you! :)

Attachments

Step 3: Finish

So we have made rack for the lab tubes! Now it is the time to sort the resistors and to label the tubes. It is time consuming and boring work, but while it is done, it is absolutely perfect! :P

Best wishes!

DiggingFox :)