Planetary Iris Box
My latest design - the Planetary Iris Box
Unlike most iris mechanisms, which are slide-based, this design combines an iris mechanism with planetary gearing. It is very satisfying to play with, and to see the panels rotate and tuck neatly away. The motion feels like an airlock hatch you might see on a sci-fi movie.
I also added some Celtic decoration to make it cool.
This design does not offer a large storage capacity relative to its size, as much of the internal space is taken up by the mechanical components. It is best suited for storing small items, and I think it works particularly well as a dice box.
Printing and Assembly
I designed this model with easy assembly in mind. All parts click together very easily, with no tools or glue required. The trade-off is that supports are needed for printing. I highly recommend using tree supports. If printed properly, the supports should come off very easily and cleanly.
