Index card box
Store a flat stack of 3 by 5 inch cards with loose section tabs and remove a working set. All files are free, including your customized plan.
Store a flat stack of 3 by 5 inch cards with loose section tabs and remove a working set.
An open box allows loose paper tabs and a flat stack without requiring hardware or routed label slots.
For Someone using a small set of study or reference cards. Default clear opening: 153 mm × 98 mm × 84 mm.
Adjust dimensions and stock ↓Measure before you start
- Measure the largest tabbed card, not only a plain card.
- Measure the thickness of the working stack and allow space to pinch its edges.
Tools and access
- A saw and guide for straight cuts
- A square, measuring rule and caliper
- Clamps suitable for the dry assembly
- A sanding block for accessible edges
Using this organizer
- Arrange cards in topic order with loose dividers between groups.
- Lift the working group to the desk for use.
- Return completed cards behind the correct divider.
What a useful result needs to do
- Tabbed cards fit without curling against the walls.
- A selected group lifts without pulling every remaining card out.
- The active stack leaves room for a finger grip.
If the fit is wrong
- If tabs bend, increase the envelope measurement or replace projecting tabs with shorter ones.
- If the box becomes too deep to reach the last cards, reduce wall height in the planner before cutting.
Your parts
| Part | Cut length | Cut width | Thickness | Qty | Grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 165 mm | 90 mm | 6 mm | 2 | Along length | |
| 98 mm | 90 mm | 6 mm | 2 | Along length | |
| 153 mm | 98 mm | 6 mm | 1 | Unrestricted |
Item allowance: 3 × 5 inch index cards — 127 × 76.2 mm, plus 10 mm of handling space per axis.
A feasible cutting layout
Numbered cuts span their parent region. Coordinates use the sheet's top-left origin. Trim all four edges of each sheet you use first. Keep unused sheets whole. This layout does not claim the lowest possible material use.
Compare your stock choices
Try this same inventory with offcuts first and standard sheets first. Each result is a feasible estimate; the solver may miss a better layout.
Sheet S1.1
Cut sequence
| Cut | Parent region | Direction | Coordinate (mm) | First child | Second child |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | N1 | horizontal | 95 | N2 | N3 |
| C2 | N2 | vertical | 170 | N4 | N5 |
| C3 | N5 | vertical | 338 | N6 | N7 |
| C4 | N3 | horizontal | 196 | N8 | N9 |
| C5 | N8 | vertical | 158 | N10 | N11 |
| C6 | N7 | vertical | 439 | N12 | N13 |
| C7 | N13 | vertical | 540 | N14 | N15 |
Connections and machining
No grooves or notches are required. Cut the rectangular parts, then follow the connection details.
Put it together
1. Measure and mark
Measure the actual sheet thickness (6 mm in this plan). Mark front / back F, left / right L, base P. Recalculate if the measured thickness differs. Measure tabbed cards as well as plain cards.
Parts: F, L, P · Start here2. Cut and label the parts
Follow the numbered full-width cuts in the cutting sequence, then subdivide each labeled child region. Keep the part IDs and grain arrows. Use the instructions supplied with your tools; this plan is not tool training.
Parts: F, L, P · After measure3. Dry-fit the outer walls
Front and back span 165 mm. Fit the 98 mm side walls between them. Check the outside footprint 165 × 110 mm and square the corners. The inset base is 153 × 98 mm; its underside sits flush with the wall bottoms. Total base clearance is 0 mm per axis (0 mm on each side).
Parts: F, L, P · After cut4. Assemble the base and walls
Prepare and bond the butt-joint contact faces using an adhesive suitable for your sheet. Center the inset base at z = 0 mm. Check squareness before clamping. For a clearance gap, verify the adhesive allows that gap; use zero clearance or revise the fit if it does not.
Parts: F, L, P · After dry-fit5. Cure, finish and check the fit
Follow the adhesive manufacturer's cure and handling instructions. Smooth edges and apply a finish compatible with your materials. Attach four self-adhesive felt pads under the base corners. Use loose paper tabs; the plan has no routed label slot. Use for light desktop items; no load rating is provided.
Parts: F, L, P · After glue
Materials and supplies
- Uses 1 standard sheet(s) and 0 existing offcut(s). Check your inventory before buying.
- S1: 1 of 1 used · 600 × 600 × 6 mm plywood (standard sheet).
- Four self-adhesive felt pads.
- Adhesive suitable for the selected sheet. Prepare according to the adhesive label and actual contact faces; no universal quantity or cure time.
- Compatible finish and abrasive. Choose for the actual material and intended indoor use.
Take the complete plan
Parts, stock, cutting sequence and machining CSVs, connection and assembly diagrams, a printable plan and editable JSON. No sign-up.
For PDF, open the print page and choose Save as PDF in your browser. Use A4 or Letter.
For light desktop storage. Geometry checked; physical assembly and durability untested. Follow your tool, sheet and adhesive instructions. Adhesive quantity and curing time depend on the product you use.