Flip Lid Box Designer

About

Flip lid Box Designer is an indirect 3D modeling tool tailored specifically for laser cutters. Customization is facilitated through an intuitive menu with customizable parameters.

Features:

  • IN and MM unit versions available.
  • Custom height, width, depth.
  • Custom material thickness.
  • Customizable finger joints.
  • Customizable free-floating divider system.
  • Inside and Outside measurement reference.
  • Laser Kerf correction for better fingerjoint fitting.
  • Many hinge hole options to accommodate different types of materials.
  • Custom finger tab/pull configurations.
  • Optional NO finger joint configuration.

While this generator is primarily designed for laser cutters/engravers, the exported SVG (2D) and STL (3D) files are versatile and can be adapted for CNC tools and 3D printers as well.

The Basic Box Designer script operates within the powerful JSCAD environment—an open-source project that enables parametric 3D modeling through code. Check it out here: JSCAD.

Divider Cell Size Values

The divider cell size (width/depth/height) can be viewed by opening the browser debug console inside the ‘developer tools’. This procedure will vary from browser to browser.

Chrome and Edge browsers

  • Click on main menu
  • Click on ‘More Tools’
  • Click on ‘Developer Tools’
  • Click on ‘Console’ tab.
  • divider cells dims w/d/h will be displayed in console output.

Firefox browser

  • Click on main menu
  • Click on ‘More Tools’
  • Click on ‘Web Developer Tools’
  • Click on ‘Console’ tab.
  • divider cells dims w/d/h will be displayed in console output.

Safari browser

  • Click on main menu ‘Develop’
  • Click on ‘Show JavaScript console’
  • divider cells dims w/d/h will be displayed in console output.

Shortcut ‘View’ keys

To enhance viewing and navigation of 3D and 2D objects, six shortcut keys are available.

3D

2D

Mouse Navigation

Pan (Move)

To pan or move a 2D or 3D model on the screen, press and hold the ‘SHIFT’ key, while at the same time hold down any mouse button (left, right, or scroll wheel). Drag the mouse to move the model around the 2D/3D space.

Orbit (rotate)

To rotate a 2D or 3D model on the screen, press and HOLD down any of the mouse buttons while dragging/moving the mouse.

Zoom

To zoom in or out within the 2D or 3D space, scroll the mouse wheel forward or backward.

Procedures

Export to SVG file

SVG is a native format for laser and CNC cutting machines. To export your 3D box to an SVG file, follow these steps:

  1. Under the VIEW/EXPORT menu group, select 2D from the ‘View’ dropdown.
  2. Press the ‘t’ key to display a top down view of the 2D layout.
  3. Select ‘SVG’ from the file type select dropdown box.
  4. Press the ‘Export’ button.
  5. Output SVG will be save in the ‘Downloads’ folder.

Export to STL file

STL is a native format for 3D printing machines. To export your 3D box to an STL file, follow these steps:

  1. Under the VIEW/EXPORT menu group, select 3D from the ‘View’ dropdown.

  2. Select ‘STL (ascii)’ or ‘STL (binary)’ from the file type select dropdown box.

  3. Press the ‘Export’ button.

  4. Output STL will be save in the ‘Downloads’ folder.

OBJ File Export for use in Blender

OBJ file format works great within Blender

  1. Under the VIEW/EXPORT menu group, select 3D from the ‘View’ dropdown.
  2. Select ‘OBJ’ from the file type select dropdown box.
  3. Press the ‘Export’ button.
  4. Output OBJ will be save in the ‘Downloads’ folder.