Small Display Case by msgilbertrocks

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

Small custom display box for LEGO® Minifigures.
This size fit a space available on a TV stand. Feel free to modify size to suit your needs.
Current project file features pieces to make two boxes with two separate shelves per box.
This design can be cut from a single 12" x 24" piece of 1/8" thick wood.
In an updated version I would adjust the width of the overall piece to allow the base plates to fit better. For 25 studs to fit this could be something like a few millimeters.
Be sure to measure your wood! My sheet was actually 23.82" x 11.81"
Base plates used for the design were glued to each shelf (with craft glue - Aleene's Original Tacky Glue) with a total of 25 studs wide and 4 studs deep. Actual base plates used for each shelf:
1x4 (25) (see photos) or 4x6 (4) in alternate option (leaves gap)
In this design 25 studs fit across the shelves snugly. Note that the furthermost studs are not functional (too close to sides). Using any configuration with 24 studs (e.g., 4 of the 4x6 base plates) across can leave a gap at either end of the shelf but characters still fit best with a row of studs left empty (arms bump out too far - see photos). The depth for this project fits 4 studs well. The gap at either side is a matter of preference.
Each shelf holds about 6-7 minifigures (see photos) regardless of the configuration used. The open space between shelves is equal for the top two (about 2.40" or 6.1 cm), but the lower shelf (bottom piece) has less space - the height is 2.20" or 5.6 cm. The top two shelves accommodate the taller characters I have so this works just fine for me :)
Each box is made up of:
back piece (measures: 8" wide x 7.5" tall)
left side (measures: 7.264" tall x 1.264" deep)
right side (measures: 7.264" tall x 1.264" deep)
top piece (measures: 8" wide x 1.264" deep)
bottom piece (measures: 8" wide x 1.264" deep)
shelf (two used - each measures: 7.7362 wide x 1.2992" deep)
NOTE: shelves do protrude slightly, adjust depth to that of the top/bottom piece at 1.264" if that is an issue...but match depth of base plate (in this case the 1.264" depth would work just fine for the 1x4 plate pieces used)
Use http://www.makercase.com/ to generate other boxes. This design started with a basic SVG file created from the website. Shelves were added separately and layout was adjusted to accommodate pieces for two total boxes to be cut from a single sheet of wood. Note that path alignment for files are set for laser cutting efficiency.
Base plates were purchased in exact size/color needed from LEGO® Pick-A-Brick online: https://shop.lego.com/en-US/Pick-a-Brick or hand picked at the Pick-a-Brick wall of a local LEGO® store.
Kept the wood raw instead of painting. Total cost for this project was about $7 worth of pieces (small PAB cup fit these and plenty more) and the wood I had on hand cost around $2 when purchased. That makes the total investment for two custom displays that fit space I had a whopping $9 (or $4.50 each). Definitely a fun project!
Files included are PDF and SVG - lines are set as "hairline" for vector cutting. Delete text or send the job as vector only, otherwise letters/words will be etched as raster. Text is meant to show users the type of piece (L/R are side pieces, T/B are top or bottom and shelves are marked).
STL of 3D model mock up is included for reference (never printed) too. Measurements are identical to those given for laser cut project. Please let me know if you need any other type of file to make your own remix!