The Idea

I've always found myself needing shelving solutions that fit exactly the space and purpose I have in mind — not some fixed-size product from a store. The HexGrid Modular Shelf System was born from that frustration. The core idea is simple: a fully modular, 3D-printable shelf system built around a 200×200mm grid, where every single component snaps together without screws, glue, or tools. You design what you need, print what you need, and build exactly that — nothing more, nothing less.

The hexagonal perforation pattern on the plates isn't just aesthetic. It significantly reduces print time and filament usage while keeping the plates rigid and giving the whole system a clean, modern look.

How It Works

All Plates have a depth of 120mm. Connectors extend slightly to 126mm — the extra 3mm on each side is what grips and clamps the Plates securely in place. This means your finished shelf will always be 126mm deep, regardless of configuration.

The system is based on a 200×200mm grid. Every component is designed to fit this grid precisely:

• Plate (200mm) — the standard panel, spanning one full grid unit. Used as shelves, side walls, or dividers.
• Small Plate (94.5mm) — two Small Plates plus one Connector fit exactly into one full grid unit: 94.5 + 11 + 94.5 = 200mm. This lets you split any edge into two independently usable half-segments without breaking the grid.
• X_Connector (11mm) — connects four Plates or Small Plates meeting at a single point.
• T_Connector (11mm) — for three-way junctions.
• L_Connector (11mm) — for corners where two Plates meet at 90°.
• Stability_Foot (11mm) — a wider foot for outer corners and exposed ends. Gives the structure a solid, stable base.
• Slim_Foot (11mm) — a narrower foot for tighter configurations where the Stability_Foot would be too wide.
• Diagonal_Brace (100×100mm) — fits into one quarter of a 200×200mm grid cell and attaches to the two adjacent Plates at its corner. Adds rigidity and a structural aesthetic to any open field. Since each Brace occupies two edges of its cell, the same edge cannot be shared by a second Brace from a neighbouring cell — plan your layout accordingly.

Connectors and Feet always sit at grid intersection points. The type of connector you need at any given point is determined purely by how many Plates meet there — the geometry tells you exactly what to print.

The Configurator

To make planning easier, I built a browser-based visual configurator (with the help of AI) that lets you design your shelf layout on a 200×200mm grid, click edges to place Plates or split them into 2× Small Plates, add Diagonal Braces per corner, and automatically generates a full parts list including estimated filament weight per part. No installation needed — it runs entirely in your browser as a single HTML file.

The configurator is available on GitHub: [https://github.com/wiste95/hexgrid-modular-shelf](https://github.com/wiste95/hexgrid-modular-shelf)

Download configurator_modular_organizer_shelf.html and open it in any browser. No internet connection required, no data is sent anywhere. The full source code is openly visible — feel free to inspect it in any text editor before running it.

Print Settings

All parts were printed in PLA. Other materials will generally work too, but keep shrinkage and warping behavior in mind — especially for the Connectors and Feet, where dimensional accuracy matters for a clean fit.

Support is only required for the Connectors (X, T, L). All Plates, Feet and the Diagonal Brace print without any support.

If you're not using Bambu Studio with the included print profile, here are the relevant settings I used:

General:

• Sparse Infill: 20%, Gyroid pattern
• Bottom Shell Layers: 5

Connector & Foot specific:

• Wall Loops: 5

Diagonal Brace specific:

• Wall Loops: 3

Support settings (important — read carefully):

• Support: On Build Plate Only
• Remove Small Overhangs: disabled — leave this off. If enabled, the slicer may attempt to bridge across the full length of a Connector, which can distort the dimensions and affect fit.
   

Note on print orientation: Each Connector has a specific orientation in the print profile — please do not rotate them. The T_Connector prints upside down, while the X_Connector and L_Connector print diagonally on one edge. This ensures all clamping slots are symmetrical and dimensionally accurate. Printing in a different orientation will result in uneven slot depths and a poor fit with the Plates.

Bambu Studio users can simply use the included .3mf print profile — all settings are already configured.

Source files are included as .f3d (Fusion 360) and .step. Note that due to the complex perforation pattern, STEP files may open as a mesh in some CAD applications rather than as editable solid geometry. For parametric editing, the .f3d file is recommended.