parametric-box/README.md

Wargame Accessory Box & Dice Tray

A parametric OpenSCAD box for carrying tabletop wargaming accessories. Three printable parts:

Part	Purpose
box	Open tray. With the insert removed it doubles as a dice tray.
lid	Fully detachable friction-fit lid (no hinge to get in the way).
insert	Removable compartment tray for tokens, measuring tapes, etc.

Quick start

Open wargame_box.scad in OpenSCAD and set the three total_* values to the free space in your backpack — they are outer dimensions and total_z already includes the closed lid, so the printed result fits the measured space exactly.

Pick what to render with the part variable (or the customizer): assembly (exploded preview), box, lid, insert, print.

Or export everything from the command line:

make            # exports stl/box.stl, stl/lid.stl, stl/insert.stl

Configuring the insert layout

Compartments are defined by the layout list, one entry per row (front to back):

layout = [
    [1.0, [1, 1, 1, 1]],   // front row: 4 equal token bins
    [1.0, [2, 1, 1]],      // middle row: 1 double-width + 2 small
    [0.8, [1]]             // back row: full-width slot (tapes etc.)
];

• The first number is the row depth weight.
• The list is the column width weights within that row.

Weights are relative, so the layout always fills the insert exactly no matter what box size you choose. A row weight of 2 is twice as deep as a row of weight 1; a column weight of 2 is twice as wide as 1.

To print a second insert variant (e.g. for a different game system), just change layout, re-export, and swap inserts as needed. Two half-height stacked inserts are possible too: set insert_h_override to about half of the automatic height and print two with different layouts.

How the parts work together

• The lid is a flat plate with a lip that plugs into the box opening. lid_clearance (default 0.2 mm per side) controls the friction fit — print a test fit and adjust for your printer/material. Shallow thumb grooves on the box's front and back walls let you pry the lid off; they do not pierce the wall, so the dice tray stays fully closed.
• The insert sits below the lid's lip, so the lip also keeps loose tokens from jumping compartments in the bag. Finger notches on its short walls let you lift it straight out; then the empty box is your dice tray. tray_chamfer puts a 45° bevel around the floor edges so dice don't lodge in the corners.

Printing notes

• No supports needed for any part. Print all parts flat side down (the lid prints plate-down, lip up).
• PLA or PETG, 2–3 perimeters, ~10 % infill (the parts are mostly walls).
• If the lid is too tight/loose, tune lid_clearance in steps of 0.05 mm. Same for the insert with insert_clearance (looser is fine there — it just needs to drop in and lift out easily).
• A piece of felt glued into the box floor makes dice rolling quieter; if you plan this, add the felt thickness to nothing — the inner depth is generous — but you may want tray_chamfer = 0 for a flat floor.