Solder Station Caddy (Keep That Stuff Organised!)
by Max Maker in Workshop > 3D Printing
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Solder Station Caddy (Keep That Stuff Organised!)
![DIY Soldering Station Caddy (3D Printed Workshop Organisation)](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9O/L22P/KA28X2Q1/F9OL22PKA28X2Q1.jpg&filename=DIY Soldering Station Caddy (3D Printed Workshop Organisation))
![Instructable Solder Station.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F49/IZ9Q/KA28X75W/F49IZ9QKA28X75W.png&filename=Instructable Solder Station.png)
Some jobs need a lot of tools. Wheather its soldering, sewing or painting, you will have a ton of little things on your desk, so a caddy to carry and oganise that stuff would be great. I used my 3D printer for this and I hope this instructable acts as a inspiration to build some custom storage items that cater your needs. This is a great way to declutter any workspace or hobby.
This particular caddy fits the Ersa Icon Pico soldering station which is an amazing tool. I can highly reccomend it.
I use Fusion 360 which is a free CAD software for enthusiasts like us.
CAD FILES
Why use a 3D printer for this?
Sure the filament for this project cost about €10, but it saved me a ton of time. This would be an all day project otherwise. Making this out of wood would also be much heavier, and not as detailed. It would certainly make a whole lot more dust and require a ton of tools like drills, saws, sanders, files and glue.
Measure Your Stuff.
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.16.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9I/HSK3/KA28X2LU/F9IHSK3KA28X2LU.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.16.jpg)
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![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.57.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FJC/GX8X/KA28X2IH/FJCGX8XKA28X2IH.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.57.jpg)
Grab all your stuff and lay it out on a table. Its best to do this after you just completed a project, so all your tools are already there and you don´t miss anything. I only measured the floor space of my items. The height wasn´t important since they can stick out of the top.
The cables were difficult to sort out, I decided to just give them a generous compartment to stuff them into.
Design Your Caddy.
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.25.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNU/466A/KA28X2L7/FNU466AKA28X2L7.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.25.jpg)
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.49.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FA4/P5UM/KA28X2JJ/FA4P5UMKA28X2JJ.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.58.49.jpg)
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.30.15.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FV1/ZJ39/KA28X5J4/FV1ZJ39KA28X5J4.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.30.15.jpg)
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There are a lot of different ways to design something like this in CAD. I kinda went the architects way and designing a flat and empty floorplan that fits the build plate of my 3d printer and than deviding everything into compartments. I gave every tool a 1mm gap towards all sides. That way its easier to get them in and out.
I designed all compartments inside a single sketch. That is personal preferance, and I like it because I can see straight away how they interact with the other compartments. The outside walls are 2mm thick and the inside walls 1.2mm. That is sturdy enough, but I wouldn´t go any thinner. I tried to use the least amount of material as possible.
The filament for this is PETG. It is not as brittle as PLA, but it prints just as easily. A heated print plate is important though, but nowadays most printers have one.
The outline tool is very useful to create the wall thicknesses. All CAD softwares have a version of this.
With time, I kept adding more features until everything had its space. Of course you wan´t to avoid overhangs as much as possible. I had one and decided to split up the model into two parts to avoid printing to much support material.
Using Threaded Inserts
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.00.04.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FK4/H8N7/KA28X2GK/FK4H8N7KA28X2GK.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.00.04.jpg)
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.36.13.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7Y/J247/KA28X5ZX/F7YJ247KA28X5ZX.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.36.13.jpg)
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.00.36.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBN/U8U0/KA28X2GJ/FBNU8U0KA28X2GJ.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 22.00.36.jpg)
These inserts can be press-fitted into your 3D prints with the hot tip of a soldering iron. I used the branded version from Ruthex which are a little bit more expenive than the generic ones from China, but the quality is much better. The dimensions of the holes are printed onto the bags which is a very nice touch. No guessing required.
These are great to connect different component. You can also thread the plastic itself like you would thread metals, but I found that PLA likes to melt very easily when threading it with a cordless drill. And if that happens, you really have messed up!
For the spinning tabs on the green square holder, I secured the screws with a drop of superglue, so they don´t come out.
Finishing Touches.
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.59.21.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FCK/EVNT/KA28X2HB/FCKEVNTKA28X2HB.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.59.21.jpg)
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![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.59.44.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F87/1LW0/KA28X2GM/F871LW0KA28X2GM.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.59.44.jpg)
Not many steps in this instructable! The printer does most of the work, which is aweome. I love spending time in my workshop, but of course that time is limited.
I added felt pads underneath and glued on the extra part with the overhang. Superglue works well with PLA and PETG. I use felt pads instead of silicone, because I want to be able to slide the caddy around.
Add Your Stuff!
![Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.59.58.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0J/JUJO/KA28X2GL/F0JJUJOKA28X2GL.jpg&filename=Bildschirmfoto 2020-05-11 um 21.59.58.jpg)
Lets hope you took the right measurements and also entered them correctly. If not, you can just print it again. It takes 36h all together, but does it really matter? I don´t mind keeping my printer busy. More time for me to watch netflix.