Magnetic School Locker Storage Bin / Box
Instruction
Get ready for back to school and get organized with this simple magnetic locker bin. You can easily customize this free file or cut it out as-is with your S1 laser.
The settings are for the S1 20W laser. You may need to adjust the settings for your laser configuration.
Be sure to follow all the safety guidelines for your laser and always wear personal protective equipment when the laser is in operation.
To get started. I like to lay out the parts of my project and make sure everything looks like it should. You may have noticed that in my picture I have two sides that are the same. I forgot to reflect the side so that the pattern is on the outside of the box. Don't worry. in the design file, this is fixed. I wanted to mention this because it is helpful to spot mistakes before starting assembly. It was easy enough t jump back in XCS and mirror the part and run it on the laser by itself.
Next, put the box together in what is known as a dry fit. This means we will not use any adhesive, but simply slide all the parts together. This step ensures that everything fits and that you understand how the assembly will work. Once the glue is on, you only have so much time before it begins to set.
Whil we are on this step, it is important to notice that the back of the box has to holes, These should be toward the top. You will also find that there is a part that doesn't have finger joints. This covers the back where the two holes are. This will keep the magnets from falling out.
The next task is to glue the joints together. I am using wood glue, but you could also use super glue. It doesn't take much glue. As you can see, I only place a small amount on each finger of the joint. The inside face will meet up with the notch in the joining part.
As you are assembling the parts, glue will squeeze out. It is important to have a damp rag or paper towel to help clean this up.
Next, turn the box up on its back and place a little bit of glue on the part that does not have fingers. This piece is the same width as the inside walls of the box, so it should fit just snugly inside the box. Ensure that the holes are covered up.
Let the box sit for at least 15 minutes after completing the step. This will give the wood glue time to set.
Next, I used a two-part epoxy to insert the magnets. To prepare the magnets, I used some 220-grit sandpaper to scuff up the side that will be in contact with the epoxy. This adds tiny grooves in the surface and helps to improve the bond with the epoxy.