Modular Socket Box! 1/4" Sockets

So there I was, working on an old jeep with my brand new set of 1/4" sockets in their egg carton plastic holder. I reached to grab a different socket, and…boom all 28 sockets, 4mm to 15mm, shallow and deep, were bouncing off hot engine parts, rolling across the concrete, scattering themselves to the four winds. At that moment, I knew I could do better.

So began a saga of designing, printing, failing, and repeating until I had a socket set I could take to work & be proud of! And now I release it to the wild!

This is meant to fill a specific niche, it's not gonna be the perfect solution for every mechanic or hobbyist, but for someone who uses a socket set like this a couple of times a week and wants a tidy, neat, self contained box to keep their sockets organized, this might be just the ticket. 

I'm sure there is plenty that could be improved, but it is functional and solid. I've been using a copy of this final version for a few weeks, and I think it's ready to release. Please feel free to let me know if you have ideas for modification/more modular attachment options.

Model Information:

The body of the box and clasp are print in place. The box will print on 2 plates, Front half on one plate, and back half on another plate with the clasp printed in place. The 2 halves are hinged together with a piece of filament. 

There is a small amount of support required, less than 1.5g total. I recommend keeping the layer height at .2mm to keep the print in place hinge reliable. 

I used PETG-HF in all my test prints, so I can't say for sure how well it will perform with PLA or other materials. The design requires some flexibility for the socket rails to flip & lock in place. 

To assemble the socket rails, first print the plate “Rails and Socket Pegs” in the main profile. Adjust the number of pegs to whatever you need for your socket set, I had 28 in this set. 

Once printed, slide the Socket pegs onto the Rail pieces. 

Once they're in place, you can install your sockets and snap the whole rail into place in the box. 

The fit will likely be snug on the sockets, they'll wear in after 10 or 20 uses and get easier to use. Mine haven't gotten loose tho, even after a few weeks of use they still hold all the sockets firmly. 

I also put together a modular attachment insert that snaps in place anywhere in the box, and provides some attachment points to fit ratchets/extensions/whatever other doodads you might need in a little black box. You'll find this part in the profile named “Socket Box Insert, Modular” with a couple of premade parts that fit my ratchet & a short extension. (Capri CP12100FX) If your ratchet is a different size, or you have other sizes/ideas for attachment points, let me know!

Thanks for taking a look! Enjoy!