CLICKbase: a no-magnet, latching Gridfinity baseplate - all flush edges, easy expansion, very rigid

CLICKbase, like the Clickfinity design it evolved from, is a latching Gridfinity baseplate that holds all Gridfinity compatible bins securely without using any magnets. The most significant difference with Clickfinity (and it's other remixes) is that all grid sizes (1x1 up to 6x6) print with smooth, flush edges on their entire perimeter. 

Files are provided for 1x1 up to 6x6 baseplate sizes. Expansion to any desired grid size is accomplished by joining multiple baseplates together with small printed clips (the file CLICK_Clip ). Clips are easily inserted or removed (tweezers may be helpful), allowing end-use baseplate sizes to be both unlimited and easily reconfigured if and when needed. Only 2 or 3 clips, one at each end of a baseplate (and maybe one in the middle) are needed to securely combine plates together. It does require firm pressure to fully seat the clips in the slots - I use a blunt tool like the handle of a screwdriver or (often) the bottom corner of a bin.

No screw holes are provided in this design, and I have not found them to be necessary. The grids themselves are quite rigid, and if it is desired to keep them from sliding on a surface, small adhesive tape dots (like these) should be effective. I don't even use those, as my tool drawers (as many are) are lined with a thin anti-slip rubbery mat, and the baseplates stay put on them very well.

Printing Suggestions

I have done all my printing using a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer height. Due to the very small geometry of the bin-latching mechanism design, the perimeter ‘joining’ slots, and the clips, I doubt that this would print well with a larger nozzle size. If you are successful with this design using a larger nozzle size, please post a make and comments.  EDIT (10/2/24): In Comments, Bunnywinkles reports printing this successfully with a 0.6mm nozzle - NICE!

As noted in the original Clickfinity design, it is recommended to print these baseplates in something other than PLA (or PLA+). That is because the spring mechanism (that creates the latching function) would lose it's spring force over time due to PLA's material ‘creep’ under continuous loading. That would cause the retention force to be permanently reduced after a bin has been in place for a length of time. PETG, ABS, ASA or Nylon are all acceptable material choices. 

The small clips used to join baseplates together do not have that limitation, and I print mine in PLA+. I printed my baseplate grids in PETG at a speed of 50mm/sec on a Bambu Lab X1C. At faster printing speeds my results were not as satisfactory.

The Files    

(NEW 2/18/25: by request, files for larger grid sizes are now available, up to 8x8, in the standard 42mm grid size only. Files are located in a single .zip file ‘Click42_LargeGrids’ in “Other Files”)

(NEW 2/9/25: by request, .3MF files for 50mm (non-standard) grid size baseplates are now uploaded in a single .zip file in “Other Files”)

(NEW 1/6/25:  by request, step files for all grid sizes are now in a .zip file in “Other Files”)

Files are provided for 1x1 up to 6x6 grids; file names include the size. The ‘42’ in the filename describes the individual grid dimension of 42mm (Gridfinity standard). 

For a variety of reasons I make my own grids on a (non-standard) 50mm unit dimension - it just fits my storage needs better, and therefore I included the unit dimension in the filenames so I can keep my own files organized. Oh, and that's why the photo proportions might not look ‘quite right’, as they are of my 50mm grids  :)

I don't wish to start a conversation about standards, but if there is interest in the 50mm files I would be happy to post those as well - let me know in comments if you'd like them put up. Just realize that this means needing to create all of your own bins, as most everything shared online is for the 42mm standard dimension. That has not been a burden for me due to the excellent Fusion 360 GridfinityGenerator plug-in by Lev Mishin (thanks for that outstanding plug-in!).

This is an evolution of @NoWarrenty's Clickfinity, a very clever no-magnet, latching, Gridfinity compatible baseplate design, and was also influenced both by James Boone's remix, and the flush-edges of daniel.g68's remix. Both daniel.g68 and James Boone provided valuable feedback as I developed this remix - thanks!

I completely redesigned the latching (bin retention) mechanism of ‘Clickfinity’ to allow all perimeter edges of every baseplate grid to be flush and smooth; I also chose to slightly increase the bin retention (holding) force. 

Advantages of this design over original ‘Clickfinity’ and it's variants are:

1. All grid perimeters' outside edges are flush and smooth, with no protrusions, and therefore fit easily up against drawer sides, partitions, etc.
2. Baseplate grids can be readily joined to additional grids to create any size baseplate.
3. Slightly higher bin retention force (particularly noticeable on 1x1 size bins) without noticeably increased insertion force
4. Any baseplate can be joined to any other baseplate; there is no need for different ‘edge’ and ‘center’ or ‘left/right/up/down’ grid sections
5. The simpler geometry of the latching (bin retention) mechanism prints faster, and uses slightly less filament
6. The resulting baseplates are noticeably more rigid than other ‘Clickfinity’ variants