IKEA KALLAX Cabinet doors

I designed and 3D printed cabinet doors for IKEA shelves. They don't require any screws, utilize print in place hinges, and have a magnetic closure. A great IKEA hack and fun way to personalize your IKEA KALLAX shelves.

I've also uploaded a version for XL printers to be able to print them in a 2 door format.

Magnets used were 6x3mm 

The exact ones I used were: https://amzn.to/4jvDL14 (affiliate link)

MINI VERSION AVAILABLE: If you have a mini or a smaller build plate, I've uploaded a snap fit hinge version! This allows you to print the door and hinge separately and assemble them yourself instead of a print in place. 

KNOWN ISSUES

• People have reported that the snap fits for the handles break. 
  • Possible solution: print the handles separately on it's side with supports. This will change the orientation of the layer lines and make them stronger 

CREATE YOUR OWN DESIGNS

I've uploaded the Fusion 360 file to help you make your own designs or doors to fit your shelves!

I'm still new to cad design so please don't judge me too hard on file structure or constraints and I apologize in advanced for if anything breaks while updating parameters 🙈

The components that make up a cabinet are:

• 4 Beams
• 4 panels that make 2 doors
• 4 hinges (These hinges should be exported with it's corresponding panel to be printed in place)

I will use the Kallax shelf as an example for each of these parameters you can modify.

The Kallax shelf dimension is 13.25" x 13.25" (336.55mm x 336.55mm)

h = height of shelf dimension, w = width of shelf dimension

panelHeight

This will be the size of each panel height and you have to take the thickness of the beam (10mm) into consideration when calculating:

(h/2) - 10

Kallax example: (336.55/2) - 10 =  158.275mm 

panelWidth

This will be the size of each panel width:

w/2

Kallax example: 336.55/2 = 168.28mm

dovetailTol

The tolerance between the dovetail joints.

I found that 0.05mm worked best for my Bambu X1C and Prusa Core One but it may be different for yours.

Tip: Best way to test the fit is to print just the beams and hinges (without the door panels)

There are other parameters in the file but I would not advise using them as I may have abandoned using them midway.

ASSEMBLY

1. Arrange pieces like image below. Notice the placement of where the magnet holes, the direction of the dovetails, and the indentation of the center beams where the magnets attach.

2. Insert magnet into the doors. The direction of the polarity will not matter. The fit is pretty tight. It may help to use pliers and gently use them until they fit. Fit is tight in order to avoid using glue. (Magnets are 6x3mm and linked above)

3.  Next we will insert magnets into the beams. We want to first check the polarity of the magnet by placing it on top of the magnet on the door.

4. Then insert the magnet into the beam. It will be inserted on the side without the indentation. There is a 45 degree chamfer on the side facing the door magnet so the magnet will not fall out. You may need to poke it through using some tool.

5. If you get the polarity wrong, you can just poke it out through the other side.

6. Connect the center beams. Tolerance may be tight. It's hard for me to accomodate all printers and it was better to error on the tighter side so they don't fall apart. If it's too tight, you can gently hammer it down.

7. Connect the top and bottom doors.

8. Connect the doors to the beams.

9. Hold the door frame vertically and insert the handles while bracing the back side 

10. Wedge the cabinet frame in, it could help by starting the bottom slightly in then wedging the top.

11. Gently push the frame in until it matches the front of the bookcase.

12. Enjoy your new IKEA cabinet doors! Hope this helped!!