Reloaders need an ammo box that makes it easy to return spent casings after a trip to the range, and that enables marking the box for the details of the reload.

Update 04 October, 2024
Update the ammo-box-gcodes script and associated scripts to do color change additions to the gcode using the post_processing option in PrusaSlicer

Update 18 September, 2024
Improve the "won't clear cartridge rim" calculation in previous versions. The old calculation extended the box farther forward than necessary (making it bigger than necessary.)
Note that the STL files in this thing are not from this most recent AmmoBox.scad and I have no plan to update the STL. This thing is most useful if you customize the box yourself.

Update 24 July, 2024
Add "38 Spl" to the ammo-box-gcodes script
Lower the boundary between body and lid for the 357/38 preset.

This is a remix of an ammo box I did several years ago in SolidWorks, and now I am using OpenSCAD. That thing was itself a remix of an earlier thing by lucassiglo21 for 223 Remington. The cells in my first 45ACP remix were snug on fresh ammo, but taking spent (and therefore expanded) casings back from the range was a chore because they didn't easily fit back into the box they came out of. That led to the project to convert to openscad so that the 45ACP settings for this thing could be about 5 thou bigger than that older remix. I ended up with a highly customizable scad file that you might use to make a box of a desired caliber, or of an unusual capacity (maybe small--5 or 7 cartridges--or large), or with printed-in labels on the top and sides.

As of this writing, the Thingiverse Customizer does <b>not</b> properly handle this AmmoBox.scad because Thingiverse is using an older version of Openscad. It displays well enough, but the STL files it generates have a defect at the side panels that won't print well enough to use. To customize this thing, use at least version 2021.1 from openscad.org and run it elsewhere. The scad file has easy-to-enter options for
<ul>
<li>text on the lid.
<li>text on the left and right side panels.
<li>substitute a paper-width slot for the text on either side panel. Or both side panels.
<li>Set the capacity of the box in the number of cells in rows and columns.
<li>And, with slightly more work, enter dimensions for a catridge not among the presets.
</ul>

The STL files here were generated using the AmmoBox.scad that is also here.

The box prints in two parts, plus two #4 socket screws are required. A 1 inch length (or longer) works for the default capacity with 10 cartridges per row. If you customize to a very narrow box, smaller screws are required. The Thingiverse Customizer will generate three STLs, one with both parts, one with just the box, and another with just the lid. Leave the StlExportOrientation on STL for the easiest-to-slice for 3D printing.

The bins are in a honeycomb arrangement with outside rows having one more cartridge than the next inner ones. The default arrangement gives 5 rows of alternating length 10 and 11 for a total of 52 cartridges in the box.

The OpenScad customization dialog allows for two text labels etched into its surface: one on the lid, and the second one on either the left or right end, or both. If the text you want looks like a number to Thingiverse, i.e., has only digits and maybe a decimal point, then it will print no label at all. Work around this by starting such a label with the \ (backslash) character. (Note: at this writing, the Thingiverse Customizer uses too old an openscad version to properly support this thing.)

Instead of the end labels, it can cut a slot to insert a paper label on the end. The selector allows for the slot or else text on either end or both.

Version 1.2 replaced the STL files with compressed versions, and using the 1.2 version of the scad file, which has slightly smaller, incompatible lid vs. box dimensions from version 1.1. ver-1-1stl.zip has the previously posted STL files.

Prusa

Mk2.5s

No

No

.2mm

The latch on the lid prints with a designed-in support that you must break away after printing.
With the paper label insertion slots enabled, the main box also prints with a support that you must break away.