Box-o-matic Laser Cut boxes of any size

[artoftheprose]

So I’ve had to make a bunch of interlocking laser-cut boxes n containers by hand. Much to my delight and dismay I came across the free Box-o-matic app on my iPhone and you can put in whatever dimensions you want with inserts n things and export it directly to… pretty much wherever.

http://getboxomatic.com/

Box with Lid.svg

So try it out, and we can all laugh/mourn over the hours spent trying to get our boxes to interlock properly…

[dklgood]

Welcome.
Here is another site used by many here on the forum. https://www.festi.info/boxes.py/

[yemallaarcanum]

I love this app! I’ve created D&D dice boxes, trinket boxes and card boxes with it so far. Makes my life so much easier!

[arh2]

Yes, I’m a big fan of Box-o-matic- use it all the time!

[evansd2]

Previously, on As The Box Turns…

Is there a free box building website

Here is a massive roundup that isn’t GF specific but is definitely what you’re after.

[oneonedst]

I try the app for the first time and did a box with lid, everything was looking good but at the end when I put the box together all of the corners are not flush. I’m not sure what i did wrong, and the lid doesn’t fit i think because of the way the box doesn’t snap flush.! Any recommendation? thanks
IMG_1118|666x500

[evansd2]

Your material thickness was incorrect. Were you entering inches when it wanted mm? Vice Versa?

The length of the tabs is set by the material thickness parameter.

[arh2]

Two things likely happened here. Looks like you used draft board. If you used medium proofgrade, the thickness should be ok at 0.125". The next thing that makes a difference is the kerf. For draft board I use .005". If you use different draftboard or different kind of wood, both these values will be different. You can test it buy cutting a 1" square and carefully measuring afterwards how much got burned away.

[oneonedst]

ok thanks yes the thickness was in 0.125 but my kerf was in .008

[arh2]

.008 is good for proofgrade maple and basswood ply.

[oneonedst]

got it thanks

[evansd2]

.008" is usually what I call “hammer tight”. I rarely go that tight lately, I find that 006 or even 005 is ideal to give you a little friction so you can assemble and glue them up. The problem with .008 is that if you make the slightest mistake, you’re sunk. I find I have more success if I back off a bit.

[ydnarman]

Is there an android version of this?

[lornealladin]

It is a tight fit which can be a little aggravating putting together. I use a wood mallet and a bastard file to assemble mines carefully and it doesn’t need any glue when complete so the tight fit works to my advantage. I also use an600 grit sandpaper to slightly open up the joint spaces so they fit a little easier.

[artoftheprose]

Sure! I would do 3 things

1. Check the ‘kern’ setting
2. If it’s super humid in your area (like it is for me, I’d put them together immediately after cutting.) If I let them sit and absorb moisture from the air I have the same problem
3. If you have a program you can drop the linework in, you can match up the sides to the center piece and have it so there’s only 1 set of rectangled lines which will be guaranteed to have at least SOME space since the laser is cutting through.

[Xabbess]

Check the ‘kern’ setting

I assume this was a typo? As kern is a typographical term and kerf is the term associated with measuring pieces to achieve tight joinery.

[artoftheprose]

Correct, my apologies

[zerflo]

it seems that the app lacks the dividers functionality at the moment right? or am I doing something wrong… ?

[artoftheprose]

There was a link dropped on the thread that has a divider function, this one is not that advanced

[sck84]

Awesome find! Thanks for sharing