Filament Samples / Swatch with Box

Why another filament swatch? 

If you're looking for a simple filament sample card with a matching box, you'll go mad. Well, me. Sample too small, too much detail, no space … to few space for labeling ... 
At some point I was sitting in front of dozens of browser tabs with filament sample cards and you hear the artist voice in me say: "Really? seriously? Guys I don't want cards with built-in printer benchmarks and super complicated patterns that take three hours to print or are so small they can't fit legible lettering on them. I want a color card with room for lettering. If a filament doesn't make it through the benchmarks, prints, etc., then it won't end up in the box anyway. ARGH!"

So go to the drawing board and take the inspirations, mix them together and design your own box. That's what I made of it. 

Model

The model consists of a sample card (two types) and a setting box.

Sample Card 

The example card is 68.0 x 34.0 x 2.0 mm in size and available with a small benchmark for accuracy and layer thickness examples in 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.5 mm to evaluate the translucent effect of the filament.

Labeling works perfectly with the Pruca Slicer. Example Prusa Slicer projects can be found in the files. 

Settings / Sample Box

The box with hinged lid is 173.0 x 96.5 x 40.5 mm and can store 42 color sample cards. Why 42?  That's why, and by the way: Don't panic and don't forget your towel! 😉

Printing

Sample Card

Now, printing the sample cards depends a lot on the filament you want to try. So use the best settings for your filament, and when you're done, outdo yourself... uh... wait? That was something else … Never mind! 
Match the print settings for the sample cards to the specifications for the filament. The information on the roll is a good start, so if you know the ideal print temperature, just write it on the card. 

I recommend to use 0.2 mm for layer height. 

Box

For the box use a non flexible filament,  such as PLA, PETG, etc. I used PLA. All parts can be printed without supports. The 3D-files are already optimally aligned for printing. 

Settings 

• Nozzle: 0.4 mm
• Infill: 15 %
• Supports: No
• Raft: No
• Layer Height: 0.20 mm

Assembly

For assembly the lid to the box, you'll need two M3x40 screws with two M3 nuts.  (I used these from Amazon)

Remix

To remix the model or make your own changes, you will find the FreeCad Project and STEP files in the files.

Update and change log

2024-07-23: Added a body STL file without slots. 

It's not quite a remix, but it is inspired by several models.

• I thought the different layer heights from the "filament sample cards" for the filament pattern were great because you can immediately see how translucency effects work in the pattern. Adopted into my model.
• I like the rugged box design, but I thought the closures were overdone. Adopted the design, but designed my own quick release.
• I like the view slit in the lid of the "Yet Another Filament Sample Box", so I adopted it.