Shelf Riser - Parametric & Modular

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Parametric Modular Shelf Riser – Hex Grid System 

This model is a fully parametric shelf riser designed to organize space vertically:
kitchenware, shoes, bathroom items, accessories, or any lightweight to medium-load storage use.

The system is modular, stackable, and screw-free, using parametric male/female snap-fit connectors that allow multiple shelves to be attached together in a flexible way.

Key features

• ✅ Fully parametric design
• ✅ Stackable shelf system
• ✅ Snap-fit connectors (male / female / none)
• ✅ No screws required
• ✅ Customizable hexagonal grid
• ✅ Designed for strength vs material trade-off
• ✅ Ideal for kitchen, bathroom, shoes, storage organization

Important connector behavior

When a male connector is enabled on one side, no supporting foot is generated on that side.

The shelf is designed to reuse the feet of the female connector it is attached to, ensuring:

• Proper alignment between stacked shelves
• No duplicated or interfering legs
• A cleaner and more efficient structural design

This means that structural support is always provided by the female side, and male sides are intended only as interlocking features.

⚠️ This behavior is intentional and must be taken into account when configuring connectors and planning a multi-shelf assembly.

Important note about minimum dimensions

• When using connectors, the minimum shelf width and depth are 100 mm.
  This limit is required to physically fit the connector geometry and ensure proper structural behavior.
• When connectors are disabled on all sides, the shelf can be resized to smaller widths and depths, below 100 mm, depending on your needs.

This allows:

• Narrow shelves (single-row use cases, compact spaces)
• More flexibility when modular stacking is not required

Important note

This is my first fully parametric model made with Fusion 360.
While the design is highly adjustable, some resizing combinations may lead to geometry or strength issues.
Expect to experiment and fine-tune parameters to achieve the best results depending on your printer and intended use.

Editable parameters overview

Below are the main parameters you can adjust, along with their purpose and limits.

Shelf dimensions

• top_overall_width_mm
  • Total shelf width (edge to edge)
  • Minimum: 70mm
  • Minimum without connectors: lower values possible
• top_overall_depth_mm
  • Total shelf depth (edge to edge)
  • Minimum: 70 mm
  • Minimum without connectors: lower values possible
• top_thickness_mm
  • Thickness of the top plate
  • Minimum: 4 mm
  • ⚠️ Strongly impacts load capacity

Legs / feet

• foot_height_mm
  • Vertical height of the supporting legs
  • Minimum: 10 mm
• foot_width
  • Width of the legs (equals shelf depth)
  • ⚠️ Must be increased for heavier loads
• foot_top_interference_mm
  • Interference value for leg-to-plate fit
  • Default: −3.0 mm
  • Used to ensure tight snap-fit assembly
• has_foot_support :
  • Enable (1) or disable (0) foot support

Fit & tolerance

• fit_tolerance_mm
  • Global tolerance applied to mating features
  • Default: −0.10 mm
  • Adjust depending on your printer calibration
  • The closer the value is to zero, the tighter the fit.
    For me, -0.10 is the tightest setting I can use.

Hex grid structure

• hexa_size
  • Distance from hex center to side
  • Minimum: 3 mm
  • Larger values = stronger but heavier
• hexa_gap
  • Distance between hex cells
  • Minimum: 2 mm
  • Smaller gaps = more rigidity

⚠️ Strength warning
The hex size, hex gap, top thickness, and foot dimensions must be balanced together to achieve the required mechanical strength depending on usage.

Connectors configuration

Each side can be configured independently:

• type_connector_left
• type_connector_right
• type_connector_front
• type_connector_back

Values:

• 0 = none
• 1 = female
• 2 = male

This allows you to build custom modular layouts and stack shelves in multiple directions. When a male connector is enabled on one side, no supporting foot is generated on that side.

Recommended print settings

These are my usual settings, but feel free to experiment:

• Infill: Gyroid
• Walls:
  • 3 walls → high strength (recommended)
  • 2 walls → lighter, may be sufficient for light loads
• Layer height: standard (0.2 mm works well)

The model is designed to be experimented with depending on the final use case.

Updates :

🆕 Version update 4 – Added preconfigured models for standard shelf structures

Creating multi-shelf layouts could be tedious and error-prone due to parameter configuration.
To simplify this, I’ve added 3 new ready-to-use models to directly build standard structures:

• 2x1
• 3x1
• 2x2

The 3x1 model can also be used to build longer structures by duplicating the middle section.

👉 Connectors are preconfigured in these models for easier setup.

I’m considering adding a 3x3 structure in a future update when I have more time.

Hope this helps you get started more easily! 🚀

🆕 Version update 3 - Added a parameter to fully enable or disable the foot supports, as suggested by @AzMean. (has_foot_support)

🆕 Version update 2 – New printing model with several possible combinations

🆕 Version update – design improvement based on user feedback

This new version was created in response to a comment from @SilicoBiomancer.

The connector spacing formula has been reworked to better support small board widths and depths.
As a result:

• The minimum supported board dimensions are now:
  • Width ≥ 70 mm
  • Depth ≥ 70 mm
• The calculated spacing between connectors has changed
• This version is NOT compatible with the first version due to the updated geometry and spacing logic

➡️ Please make sure to download the correct version and verify dimensions in your slicer before printing.

🔧 A big thank you for checking out this model <3
 

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