Upright storage, Pelican 1400 and Pelican 1200 (or Apache) chip racks and inserts for 3d printing (1 Viewer)

[Ken]

I occasionally have a need to take some chips with me to run a tournament on a trip. I really can't carry a bird cage with me on a plane (or don't want to) so I created a couple of options for myself.

Option 1: 900 chips in a Pelican 1400 case

The first option is to use a Pelican 1400 case, five custom racks that hold 180 chips each, and an insert on the bottom of the case to hold them in place.

Option 2: 400 chips in a Pelican 1200 case

The second option for smaller games is to use a Pelican 1200 case, four custom racks that hold 100 chips each, and an insert on the bottom of the case, again, to hold them in place. Both options have space in the case for a couple of dealer buttons.

Bonus:
The chip racks are upright and store differently on shelves than regular flat chip racks. There are some usages where that may be more convenient for you. I use the 180 chip version for some collectable chips I have.

All of these are for 39mm chips.

If you want to 3d print these yourself the models are on Printables.com for free download:
2x3x30 - 180 chip - Pelican 1400 inserts for 900 chip case
4x25 - 100 chips - Pelican 1200 inserts for 400 chip case

If you don't want to 3d print them yourself there is a simple service called Portals where they print them for you at a reasonable price and ship them directly to you. I have setup these as individual racks and inserts or as whole kits if you like. The idea of this service is so that designers of models can sell 3d printed stuff without owning a print farm. I did not mark these up except to round them up to the next dollar as I just want to share. They are significantly less than other 3d printing services I have seen so far. You can order just a rack to try it then later come back and other more racks and the inserts.

Here is the link to the storefront: Portals store front

The Pelican 1200 400 chip solution prices out about $69 + shipping.
The Pelican 1400 900 chip solution prices out about $113 + shipping.
Shipping is a flat $5 per order which is probably less than it costs them to get a box and pay for shipping.

I hope these are useful to some of you.

Here are some photos:

 

[dizzyChipper]

Wow! Can you make for HF Apache? Can you make just the bottom piece for hex racks and setups and buttons?

This is super cool.

 

[Ken]

Wow! Can you make for HF Apache? Can you make just the bottom piece for hex racks and setups and buttons?

This is super cool.

I went to Harbor Freight to check out the sizing on the equivalent and they didn't have any in stock to try. A Pelican 1400 should be very similar to a HF Apache 2800. I don't know what a Pelican 1200 would be in Apache.

 

[Machine]

This is Freaking awesome. The tray is genius, locking them in

Seems like it will keep the chips safe from a tornado! or tossing them out of a car window at 80 mph.

Well done!

 

[Ken]

This is Freaking awesome. The tray is genius, locking them in

Seems like it will keep the chips safe from a tornado! or tossing them out of a car window at 80 mph.

Well done!

I don't think I'll be trying the car window test anytime soon. I have taken both versions on airplanes and no chips were spilled.

 

[Ken]

My design decisions were tradeoffs on space, maximum storage, safety and ease of use. Tradeoffs were made.
The racks are top loading which is different and a little slower than just dropping a whole barrel of chips on a flat rack. With some practice you can slide a whole barrel in at a time. However, the height is 25 or 30 chips (by version) so not exactly standard. This was to get as many chips in a Pelican case as I could and still get them in and out fairly easily.

As the Pelican 1400 case was taller they hold trays that have two columns of three barrels of 30 chips each. There is also a finger grab handle on top to pull them out of the case. The foam in the top of the case is thick enough to press around the finger grab and hold the chip stacks in place.

The chip stacks go around enough that chips can't fall out the side.

In the Pelican 1200 case only 25 chips could fit stacked up. I probably could have fit more chips in the case by having two different sizes of racks but I instead made the tradeoff of all the same size and enough spacing between them to grab them. Again, the top case foam is enough to hold the chips in place in transit.

I used Pelican cases because I had them. I found the bigger cases could hold more chips but didn't fit inside carry on luggage or a backpack as easily. Also, they get heavy with more chips. Heavy and big is ok for home or car transportation but not as good when flying.

 

[Ken]

Update: I found Apache 2800 cases at my local Harbor Freight and THEY FIT! (see orange case below)

It also looks like I can create an insert for the larger Apache 3800 case to fit EIGHT of the 180 chip racks. I'll work on that and update here once I have something. That would make a case that holds 1440 chips for travel purposes. (see black case below)

 

[Ken]

The Apache 3800 case I bought same with came with foam. I left the top foam in place. The bottom foam was three layers. Two were thick and one was thinner. If I left the thinner one in the bottom I can put eight of the 2x3x30 - 180 chip racks in and they are pretty settled. That thin layer of foam was enough to keep the chips in place with the lid down. The racks are tight enough side to side and top to bottom that they aren't moving.

Alternately I think a 1/4" piece of plywood or similar in the bottom might have the same effect.

I'm going to keep designing a printable insert to see if that works better but I am not sure it will.

 

[p0kerch1pf0rumrick]

These are awesome!

 

[dizzyChipper]

But can you make a taller version and use the little bit of extra height you have? Can someone on the community print these for way less $? They're awesome!

--Diz

 

[Ken]

But can you make a taller version and use the little bit of extra height you have? Can someone on the community print these for way less $? They're awesome!

--Diz

You can print them for less (or find a friend near you). Anyone else has to ship them to you. If you want a lot and are interested in 3d printing as a hobby this becomes the excuse to buy a $299 Bambu A1 and do it. The filament would be about $3 - $4 each if you find filament on sale. Shipping depends but starts about $13 for the first one then goes up by weight unless you have a commercial shipping account. This company is charging $18 each for the 180 chip rack. They also charge a flat $5 per order shipping and are setup with 1000+ printers to handle the volume. Not that long ago it would be $80 each to print these.

I could make the racks 32 or 33 chips tall, I suppose. I don't think 35 would fix as five chips are more than 1/4" tall which is about the room available.

 

[dizzyChipper]

You can print them for less. Anyone else has to ship them to you. If you want a lot and are interested in 3d printing as a hobby this becomes the excuse to but a $299 Bambu A1 and do it. The filament would be about $3 - $4 each if you find filament on sale. Shipping depends but starts about $13 for the first one then goes up by weight unless you have a commercial shipping account.

No more hobbies for me. My cousin has a 3d printer though. He printed me a little shuffle stack rack for FHC chips for me. When I asked how much material it used I was shocked when he said eh it's X grams so it's like 3 cents. Honestly, maybe he said .3 cents. I don't remember exactly. Either way I thought it was super cool and efficient.

I could make them 32 or 33 chips tall, I suppose. I don't think 35 would fix as five chips are more than 1/4" tall which is about the room available.

I just worry at the height they are now the top chips won't stay there. The bottom foam will compress over time.

 

[Ken]

I just worry at the height they are now the top chips won't stay there. The bottom foam will compress over time.

Me, too. Maybe. That is why I like a board or a printed insert. I have the insert already for the smaller sizes.

 

[Rock31]

Thank you Ken for sharing the file, started printing them last night!

 

[Ken]

Update on the Apache 3800 (BIG) case. There just isn't room after putting in eight of the 2x3x30 - 180 chip racks for any spacers or anything and still get the racks in and out easily. So, I think the best case there if you want this upright style racks is to put that thin layer of foam or a 1/4" plywood or maybe even some cardboard to build up the bottom a bit so the foam holds the chips in place.

This works well but it is heavy with over 1400 chips.

I am going to give it some more consideration and research then maybe design specific racks for this use case.

 

[rum3002576]

does anyone sell any of these?

 

[Ken]

does anyone sell any of these?

Not really. There is a Portals link in the original message. They are a "reasonably priced" 3d printing service, relative to other 3d printing services. They are still not cheap. I have uploaded the models there and priced them at cost (no profit for me) for people to order if they really want one. I have also uploaded the models where you can download them for free and print them yourself if you have a 3d printer.

 

[rum3002576]

Update: I found Apache 2800 cases at my local Harbor Freight and THEY FIT! (see orange case below)

It also looks like I can create an insert for the larger Apache 3800 case to fit EIGHT of the 180 chip racks. I'll work on that and update here once I have something. That would make a case that holds 1440 chips for travel purposes. (see black case below)

View attachment 1604067View attachment 1604068
View attachment 1604072

how many chips are in the orange case total?

 

[dizzyChipper]

If I understand correctly this is 180 x 5 = 900 chips?

But I could be wrong...

 

[Ken]

how many chips are in the orange case total?

The larger orange case has 900 and the smaller orange case has 400 chips. If you see six different racks those are 150 each (6x25) for 900. If you see four straight racks those are 100 each (4x25) for 400.

 

[PokerDogDoc]

The larger orange case has 900 and the smaller orange case has 400 chips. If you see six different racks those are 150 each (6x25) for 900. If you see four straight racks those are 100 each (4x25) for 400.

With apologies to @Ken ,the OP, if you see FIVE racks that look like a 6-pack of beer, as in the Apache 2800 orange case in post #7 and #19 above, each of those racks is 6x30 chips tall (or as he puts it in his early posts, 2x3x30, 180 chips), and thus 900 chips total.

 

[Ken]

With apologies to @Ken ,the OP, if you see FIVE racks that look like a 6-pack of beer, as in the Apache 2800 orange case in post #7 and #19 above, each of those racks is 6x30 chips tall (180 chips), and thus 900 chips total.

Yes. Thank you for the correction.

 

[rum3002576]

Yes. Thank you for the correction.

Thanks for this thread. I didn’t realize it but my buddy has a printer and he made me 6 of these racks. All
He charged me was a roll of the filament.

 

[TikiTeddy]

At Harbor Freight they sell an Apache wheeled version that fits 1,000 or so chips depending on what storage system inside you have. This rolls around fine for me. Unfortunately they just had them on sale for $70, I got got mine for $45 as it had small amount of paint on it.

 

[Huskerchipper]

Any chance of a 43mm option?? I am thinking of buying a cheap set of Tina's for travel situations and imo the 43mm Tina's handle much better than the 39mm. However, I am torn because this setup is absolutely amazing. If there was a 43mm option one would have the best of both worlds.

 

[TikiTeddy]

Thanks for this Ken. Wondering if you have any movement on the specific build for the big Apache and/or a rack for 43mm? Thanks for putting this out there.

I am new to 3D printing…I belong to a maker space that has 13 printers so want to get into it and this build seems like a good fit.

 

[Ken]

I haven't done anything for 43mm. I did a design for an Apache 3800 case that holds 1200 chips or 1000 chips and cards, etc. for a traveling game. I should do a write up of that and post the model files but I have been quite busy lately. Here are some teaser photos that may get me working on this quicker.

 

[Huskerchipper]

I haven't done anything for 43mm.

I appreciate the reply. I get it, time is elusive to come by for sure. There is getting to be quite a few 43mm chips out there and thought I would ask. I think it would be the best of both worlds, especially with slippier non-clay chips where 43mm adds to better handling.

 

[TikiTeddy]

Time is one resource we can’t ever get more of…thanks for taking yours to post here. Love the pics! The case insert is amazing! The file would be loved by many.

Love the motif…is that for the California University Bears?

 

[Ken]

is that for the California University Bears?

No. I have a poker group that plays in Lake Tahoe at least once a year and at other places during the rest of the year. We call the group "Brownbears" as there are a lot of bears in the area.

Brownbears Chip set