Gift Box - Twist Lock

Gift Box - Twist Lock

This is a gift box with a locking lid. Turning the bow on the lid a little less than 45 degrees CCW unlocks the lid allowing it to be lifted off the box. It's not meant as a puzzle, just a positively attached lid on a box.

The box inside dimensions are approximately 108 mm square (~ 4-1/4") X about 130 mm (~ 5-1/8") high. The box itself is a substantial print. The box was sized for a coffee mug with a few envelopes of hot cocoa mix standing inside it.

Unfortunately, the design is not easily scaleable. Making the box shorter or taller would be relatively easy in a design editor since only the box height would require changes. However, changing the X and Y dimensions would be more complex, mainly because of the threaded inserts and screws. That would be not much easier than creating the design from scratch.

I'm reasonably sure the bow is from someone else's work but can't recall where I got it. If anyone recognizes it and can point me to the original design I'll be happy to edit this post, throwing the remix flag and giving the OP proper credit. I did make some changes to it but it's still someone else's work at the heart of it.

The ribbons are separate pieces glued to the outside of box and lid allowing them to be a different color than the box.

Once the four brass threaded inserts are installed in the Lock Disk Retainer, the Lock Disk Retainer can be glued into the bottom of the lid. The corner tabs assure proper centering. The threaded insert holes in the Lock Disk Retainer are shouldered. Pull them in cold with a long screw. Use care not to break the post in the process. The sage voice of experience recommends holding each post with pliers while setting the insert.

CAUTION: The threaded brass inserts MUST be installed in the Lock Disk Retainer before gluing it into the lid.

The Lock Disk Retainer Plate is screwed to the posts with M2.5 X 10 mm flat head Allen screws (8 mm may work), capturing the Lock Disk. The Lock Disk and Spindle should be in place before screwing the Lock Disk Retainer Plate to the lid assembly.

CAUTION: Take care that the Lock Disk is not installed upside down or the lock mechanism will not work properly.

The bow is glued to the smaller square on the top of the spindle after all the lid/lock mechanism parts are assembled and correct, free operation is verified. A little filing or sanding maybe needed.

EDIT - 12/14/25: I used a 10 mm (ID) nylon flat washer between the Bow and the Lid Ribbon.  It's not entirely necessary but seemed like a good idea. /END EDIT

Bill of Materials:

Printed Parts (1 each):

- Box

- Lid

- Bow

- Box Ribbon

- Lid Ribbon

- Lock Disk

- Lock Disk Retainer

- Lock Disk Retainer Plate

- Spindle

Hardware:

- M 2.5 X 10 mm (8 mm may work) Allen flat head machine screw (qty. = 4)

- M 2.5 X 4 mm brass threaded insert (qty. = 4)

- Glue

Printing Data:

Material: PLA

- Nozzle: 0.4 mm

- Layer Height:

Box & Lid = 0.2 mm

All else = 0.15 mm

- Infill: 18%

- Shells: 0.8 mm

- Supports: none