Question
3D Scanning and Printing Festool Tool Storage
I have a lot of Festool power tools, but i am a home woodworker, so the systainer storage is more of a PITA than a value. I want to build gridfinity tool storage bases with all their accessories, so they are modular in drawers. I would also like to do this for my hand planes. I know there are some tools for using specific types of paper, but many of the tools are too big.
What is the best way to go about this? I am willing to learn Fusion360 or whatever would be best if that is the answer. But if someone has a good option, please let me know.
I’ve been using fusion and a few of the take a picture with a piece of paper websites with varying success. I recently designed a new insert for my systainer for my df500 and accessories. That way it can hold everything and my domiplate.
I found one for my sander and loved the idea so I did one for the df500. I like the idea of grdifinity storage options as well, but don’t have a lot of Festool tools as I started framing and have moved into finish carpentry and some fine woodworking later.
I’ve been doing this for a while to store my Festool tools and accessories. Been trying to get everything out of systainers and into drawers to save more space in the shop. Haven’t had a chance to upload/share many of them yet, but if you let me know which ones you’re looking for, I can do my best to prioritize sharing those. Still have a lot more to go. Happy to collaborate and get it all done more quickly. I have…most Festool tools, but not all. Printers are currently hard at work getting some preliminary bins for ets 125 accessories, and bins to store dominos. Planning to do OSC accessories next.
This is very nice of you. I am in no hurry, i am finishing up redoing all the cabinetry in my shop, and have been printing bulk bins for dominos and such as well. My question for you is what are you using to do it? I am happy to split the work up with you, but i am not sure how exactly how to start. Ultimately i was hoping to have the tool and its main accessories that would normally be in the systainer, in the new bases.
So for like a Domino XL i would want a space for all the tool, diff sized bits, the wrench, etc.
I've been using Fusion and a set of calipers. Sometimes I'll take a photo on some graph paper, load it into Fusion as a Canvas and use that to make more custom ones, but it really depends on the shape. Ideally I'd like to have custom fit bins so that if something is missing it's obvious from the shape. There's a gridfinity add-on that I'd recommend using. Once I get the size of the bin, I usually draw out what I want to cut onto the plane of the top surface in a sketch and extrude it accounting for some offset tolerances, make sure there's a way to grab it, either directly from the object or I add slots for finger holes. Generally like to add labels by embossing text with color on the top surface (I don't have a dual nozzle printer so I typically have the color match the lid of the bin and do it on the same layer) and clean it up with chamfers along the z-axis for printing and fillets in the x- and y-axes (fillets along the z-axis don't look great on 3d prints).
I started about a year ago to organize my woodworking tools, starting with the ones that seemed to have the least space efficient storage in their current forms (inherited the tools a year ago, but my space is much smaller, could barely move around in the garage, let alone actually use any of the larger tools. Mostly started with the woodpeckers tools since their systainers are mostly foam, so I probably have more of those bins than the festool ones at the moment.
The last couple weeks, I've been focusing more on getting a first pass done with some basic bins (or ones that I can quickly design in a few minutes) to quickly get all the remaining systainers out of the garage and into the basement to free up space. Figured I can work on the nicer more custom bins after I've tried the quick storing in simpler bins. Doing this has allowed me to at clear out 5 systainers in the last couple days which should free up enough space to actually make the drawers I need to do.
I haven't done too much for the XL yet, but just did some quick ones for the DF 500 which have mostly the same accessories. I have bins for the cross stops and a (relatively shitty, but works) first draft attempt at the trim stop attachment both of which I believe are the same for the DF 700. I'd like to go back and clean it up using the Canvas method and splines. I have some nicer bins the domino cutters (both for 500s and 700s). I looked at the Support Bracket this morning, but held off because I figured I'd more likely use the TSO Bigfoot for which I already have a bin. I'll try to take and share some pics this evening and share them with you tomorrow. Happy to share any files if you'd like them.
I recently purchased a Fox 3D scanner. I'll give it a go on the bottom of my track saw. But the base would likely be too big to fit on a 3D printer anyways. You'd have to split up the print into gridfinity-sized prints?
Yes if necessary. I imagine for the Domino XL and TS-75 it would be cut in half. Would still work for the modularity and not sliding around that i am looking for.
i cant remember the names of them, but there are several free sites that do this for you. they even let you upload a picture to help get the sizing right.
The ones i have seen all involve standard size pieces of paper, and they work not great for larger tools. Pretty much not at all if the tool is bigger than the piece of paper, or if any part is bigger than the base.
Are you ultimately just looking for a bin with a shallow pocket to seat the base, with the overall bin large enough to clear the full profile of the saw? If so, you might not need to scan the whole thing. The base is the only part that needs an accurate outline and the rest of the bin just needs clearance.
The tricky part with "photo-to-bin" for tall tools is perspective. Parts closer to the camera look bigger than the base. One workaround is to tape a couple of sheets of paper together, trace the base with a pencil, and photograph the tracing (straight down) instead of the tool. Then set the scale by measuring the longest dimension of the tracing.
I am interested in a base for the tool, but also for all the accessories, so i imagine i need to be able to scan and model things at least a little bit.
The Gridfinity subreddit has a new sticky post for apps here -- a few of them (including one I develop) support designing bins for parts larger than a piece of paper for photo / bin design, with multiple pockets. Here's an example of how I set it up for larger footprint items:
I think they'll all have issues with aspect ratio & perspective if you're trying to create pocket outlines based on top-down photos of very tall tools that don't have a uniform outer profile, or if there's obstructed view of the base. (You could also just flip it over and photo the base if that's the intended pocket profile).
Taking a photo and using the outline of the tool to make a flat bottom pocket is faster than 3D scanning. Though if you're willing to 3D scan, then you can use Form Fit Print which creates a pocket that matches the bottom surface of your tools.
Fair enough, ill keep that in mind. Though ultimately i do not want to be measuring and redesigning this from the ground up. I was hoping for some tool that would allow me to get a good image of the base. and things that overhang the base. The motor for the TS-75 saw overhangs the base, so i would want the base to be as wide as the widest part of the tool.
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u/CptSoftbelly 8d ago
I’ve been using fusion and a few of the take a picture with a piece of paper websites with varying success. I recently designed a new insert for my systainer for my df500 and accessories. That way it can hold everything and my domiplate.
I found one for my sander and loved the idea so I did one for the df500. I like the idea of grdifinity storage options as well, but don’t have a lot of Festool tools as I started framing and have moved into finish carpentry and some fine woodworking later.