Derek has these on his site. Not cheap but not overboard, good for if you don't have the time or inclination to print them yourself. Printed in the appropriate colors is a nice touch. By my count, 96 trays will fill an entire handy box.
For anybody interested in custom 3d printed raaco inserts...
- Thread starter clubby
- Start date
von Marwitz
Forum Guru
Interesting...
At 3 US$ per piece this is roughly double the price of a RAACO A78 / A75.
As Ritterkrieg is located in the US, shipment cost is forbidding to European customers.
But the clock is ticking...
My guess is that costs for 3D printing will decline in the coming years and "bulk printing" as a service will become more readily available on both sides of the pond.
While (IMHO) RAACO A78 / A75 (in combination with RAACO Assorters and Handyboxes) used to be the benchmark of ASL storage, now it is 3D inserts with RAACO Assorters and Handyboxes.
When prices for 3D printing drop, then there will be no way to resist switching.
(I know I will hate myself for the last sentence, as it is still a sh**load of work to come of with an optimized system on how to store counters in 3D inlays...)
von Marwitz
Actionjick
Forum Guru
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2020
- Messages
- 7,983
- Reaction score
- 5,396
- Location
- Kent, Ohio
- First name
- Darryl
- Country
-
Well it may be a lot of work but at least it will keep you under the long haired General's watchful eye.
Keeping on topic if the inserts are color coded to each nationality that is pretty cool.
Sparafucil3
Forum Guru
There are plenty of mass printing services on this side of the pond. I would be surprised if there were none on your side. Still not cheap though.
I question why we continue to use Handyboxes. Once you have made the decision to go 3D printed, there are other form factors out there. If Boyce is around (or if you're on Facebook), perhaps he will post some of his work. It is very nice. -- jim
Sparafucil3
Forum Guru
Boyce's work. The holes are for smally magnets which allows trays to stack. Per Boyce, he can get one OB per tray. He has done some excellent work. -- jim
fenyan
Elder Member
For those of us who do have Handyboxes, they are a solid and durable, and a good place to store the 3-D prints.
For someone starting fresh, I do agree work like Boyce's and Durik's ASL Cube may offer better options.
For someone starting fresh, I do agree work like Boyce's and Durik's ASL Cube may offer better options.
Sparafucil3
Forum Guru
Sure, but that's a Sunken Cost fallacy which is why I bring it to your attention. Took me a while to get over it too. I still use my Handy Boxes, but I am considering moving away from them. -- jim
I'm not a big sunk cost guy. I've got 50 raaco a75 trays sitting in a box on the porch since February. If anybody needs some a75 trays let me know.
Jim you say one OB per tray but is that half inch only?Boyce's work. The holes are for smally magnets which allows trays to stack. Per Boyce, he can get one OB per tray. He has done some excellent work. -- jim
DVexile
Elder Member
He also has designs that are all 5/8 as well as mixed 1/2 and 5/8.
von Marwitz
Forum Guru
That may well be the case.
The point is, indeed, still not cheap (enough - at this time).
I think I believe I know the ones which you mean (though I never was and never will be on Facebook).
Yet, I believe that RAACO Assorters & Handyboxes are superior to his approach as the former provides you with more flexibility for 3D printed inserts:
- You can decide to use inserts in two or three layers
- You can even use a combination of two or three layers of inserts within an assorter.
- During play, I like to pull out two RAACO inserts with Infantry Squads and HS to addess ELR, CR, etc. during the game. To this, I add two extra RAACO inserts which hold reinforcements for the scenario, a heap of Concealment counters, needed Acquisition counters, and may be a few other counters I am very likely to need for the scenario. This is very flexible, convenient, and uses a minimum of table space. See attached picture. The slots marked with a red "SQ" and "HS" would hold the inserts with Squads & HS. The slot marked with "RE" holds reinforcements and HIP units. The slot marked "UT" holds utility stuff, i.e. "?", Acqusition, Foxholes if I plan to dig some, and such things.
This cannot be addressed as well by the Boyce approach.
von Marwitz
Vinnie
See Dummies in the index
I'm fiddling with my storage at the moment. I use raaco with various insert.
I'm finding the 3d printed trays great for counters that you only nee a few of. I dislike them for squads as the time taken to fetch and put away is too much.
For AFVs and guns, they are, to my mind, better than the A75 trays. I can see what they are and don't have to leaver them out.
I use one for SW as well when a nationality have a plethora. The Germans need them, the US not so much.
There is a "problem" when you only need half a tray of 5/8th counters but I can live with it!
I'm finding the 3d printed trays great for counters that you only nee a few of. I dislike them for squads as the time taken to fetch and put away is too much.
For AFVs and guns, they are, to my mind, better than the A75 trays. I can see what they are and don't have to leaver them out.
I use one for SW as well when a nationality have a plethora. The Germans need them, the US not so much.
There is a "problem" when you only need half a tray of 5/8th counters but I can live with it!
von Marwitz
Forum Guru
I also believe, that the RAACO compatible 3D inserts can yet be optimized.
HEARKEN ALL 3D-INSERT DESIGNERS!
This is the current most widespread 3D RAACO-compatible design:
Basically, this design is fine:
- These inserts would shift laterally if stacked unless they are fixed in place by neighboring inserts.
This is, how the design can be improved to allow stacking without shifting:
In the picture above, please note the locations of the inserts, which I have marked with small red cricles.
Mainly these but also possibly other locations could be used to implement notches or indentations (at the bottom of the insert) and protrusions (on the top of the insert). The protrusions on top of the insert would fit into the notches of the next insert stacked on top of it, thus preventing lateral shifting.
For technical reasons of 3D printing, the notches need to be at the bottom of the insert, while the protrusions need to be on the top of it.
Probably, you already understand what I mean. I will add a drawing (excuse the low quality) to illustrate:
Protusions could be placed at the corners of an insert with matching notches in the baseplate of it.
Alternatively, a pattern of protusions could be placed in the middle of the tops of the "crosses" of the inserts and a matching pattern of notches in its baseplate.
What say you?
von Marwitz
HEARKEN ALL 3D-INSERT DESIGNERS!
This is the current most widespread 3D RAACO-compatible design:
Basically, this design is fine:
- It can be printed to be stackable in 2 or 3 layers.
- It is friendly to tweezer retrieval
- It allows for "optical" identification of counter (my favorite) making labels unneccessary
- It allows maximum flexibility within an Assorter by allowing any combination of 1/2" and 5/8" counter variants or 2 or 3 layer stacks of inserts.
- It is easy to retrieve an insert for counters needed to be placed at the side of the playing area requiring minimum table space (see previous post).
- These inserts would shift laterally if stacked unless they are fixed in place by neighboring inserts.
This is, how the design can be improved to allow stacking without shifting:
In the picture above, please note the locations of the inserts, which I have marked with small red cricles.
Mainly these but also possibly other locations could be used to implement notches or indentations (at the bottom of the insert) and protrusions (on the top of the insert). The protrusions on top of the insert would fit into the notches of the next insert stacked on top of it, thus preventing lateral shifting.
For technical reasons of 3D printing, the notches need to be at the bottom of the insert, while the protrusions need to be on the top of it.
Probably, you already understand what I mean. I will add a drawing (excuse the low quality) to illustrate:
Protusions could be placed at the corners of an insert with matching notches in the baseplate of it.
Alternatively, a pattern of protusions could be placed in the middle of the tops of the "crosses" of the inserts and a matching pattern of notches in its baseplate.
What say you?
von Marwitz
Attachments
von Marwitz
Forum Guru
Saaay...
Fair enough.
But that would deprive you of the means to address the necessity to have your squads stacked in alphabetic order without shifting.
Absolutely!
As a serious storage nerd - and I can't help to consider you one with your infamous "Wall of RAACO" - I am afraid that you have to reassess that "problem":
As a storage nerd, you have to face the truth that it is really not "I can live with it" but rather "you would (one day) die with it".
von Marwitz
Saaay...
Fair enough.
But that would deprive you of the means to address the necessity to have your squads stacked in alphabetic order without shifting.
I would not classify Vinnie as “ one of the wall of RAACO” guys as when staying at his place all his stuff takes up one shelf in the built in cupboard in the room I use . Maybe a footstep of RAACO or a drip hazard is more the case
Absolutely!
As a serious storage nerd - and I can't help to consider you one with your infamous "Wall of RAACO" - I am afraid that you have to reassess that "problem":
As a storage nerd, you have to face the truth that it is really not "I can live with it" but rather "you would (one day) die with it".
von Marwitz
Vic Provost
Forum Guru
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2016
- Messages
- 1,621
- Reaction score
- 3,724
- Location
- Pittsfield, MA USA
- First name
- Vic
- Country
-
Still using Plano 3701s and rarely have a problem finding a counter, I spend my time playing ASL and getting the next Dispatch out, not worrying if my ASL storage is up to date. I appreciate what some have done with 3D printing but I'm fine with what I have, I'd rather be throwing dice. 
Vinnie
See Dummies in the index
I fear you have me confused with the inimitable Mr Grey
Hey who is Mr Grey, I’ve never been in a Tarantino movie
Sparafucil3
Forum Guru
I have not seen the current iteration of what he has. I know he has "mixed sized" trays. -- jim