last updated August 16th, 2018 — created August 16th, 2018
For each insert we create, we have a few standard design goals:
- Reduce setup time as much as possible
- Have separate trays for "setup components" and "gameplay components"
- Allow for vertical box storage without components crushing each other
- Fit sleeved cards
We got a gorgeous new fossil stone chess set, but it came in a decrepit green box. So, we decided to build it a new one. It is made of foam-core (with our standard dress pins and craft glue), velour, liner, foam padding, a bit of black ribbon, and upholstery adhesive.
The outside of the box is wrapped in velourThe board sits on a piece of foam-core with ribbon handlesThe pieces sit on a liner and hang over their spotsThere is foam padding in the bottom under the piecesThe box is the size of the board
How To Build Foam-Core Inserts
We learned how to make foam-core inserts primarily by watching the videos from The Esoteric Order of Gamers. He has created these wonderful tutorials that will help you get started. We have tried a few methods and prefer his practices over any other. Pro tip: Although it is tempting to skip gluing when building inserts to save time, we really REALLY recommend that you don't. We have built a couple inserts using only dress pins to hold them together and they don't last very long.
Chess
Kelsam Chess ClockChess
We designed this Chess Clock with menus so you're not fumbling with button combinations or a manual.
Other Insert Projects
3D Printed Carrying CaseStar Wars Poker: Kessel Sabacc
This insert is an imperial-themed crate design featuring a handle, custom logo, 4 player trays, and a single setup tray.
3D Printed InsertTwilight Imperium Fourth Edition
This is the 4th insert we've designed for TI4. It's our greatest one yet! :)
3D Printed InsertWorld of WarCraft: The Board Game
This is our biggest insert ever. There are two large sets of drawers to hold the minis and everything else fits in the base game box.
3D Printed InsertStarCraft: The Board Game
The highlight of this insert is the faction towers. Each faction gets its own tower with reference info on shields for some room to strategize.
3D Printed InsertStar Wars: Rebellion
This is a new era of 3D Printed Inserts. It has a lot of cool features that we'd never be able to do with foam-core, like sets of miniatures drawers.
Foam-Core InsertRunebound Second Edition
This design covers every expansion, limits the boxes needed to play, and features boxes for Adventure Variants and Character Decks.
3D Printed InsertHarry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
This insert houses the base game and both expansions in the base game box. Setup is quick with several play trays that go straight from box to table.
3D Printed InsertTyrants of the Underdark
This insert fits the first edition box. It has player trays for the houses and organizes the cards (including the expansion decks) to make setup a breeze.
Foam-Core InsertDungeonQuest Revised Edition
This insert is one of the first that we did with multiple trays. It has card drawers for each mini-deck as well as small trays for all tokens.
Foam-Core InsertRunebound Third Edition
This design covers every expansion, has tokens sorted for convenience, and features boxes for each scenario.
3D Printed InsertSanctum
The best part of this insert is how fast it makes the hero skills table setup. 5 seconds, no joke.
Foam-Core InsertWorld of WarCraft: The Adventure Game
We designed custom faction boxes for the character decks and tokens. We also made draw bins for challenge decks, and a neat drawer bin for discovery tokens.
Custom Heroes BoxD&D Adventure Board Games
We created a box to store all the heroes so we'd be able to easily select any hero from any of the sets no matter which game we pulled off the shelf to play.
3D Printed InsertRisk: Star Wars Black Edition
This was our first crack at making a 3D printed insert. It features rounded edges for easy component scooping and a draw deck space for each player.
3D Printed InsertArtisans of Splendent Vale
This mini-insert for the small components tuck box keeps numbered meeples ordered and ready for action!
Foam-Core InsertWiz-War
For this game we decided to store the base game and both expansions in one box with an overflowing insert (the lid doesn't fit on all the way).
Foam-Core InsertDrakon
The best part about this one is the dungeon tile stacks bin. It makes setup much, much swifter.
3D Printed InsertSETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
This insert features a custom data slider track to make star setup a breeze!
Foam-Core InsertChaostle
We kept the original plastic insert in the base game box and built this insert for the Melee Expansion box.
Foam-Core InsertEnigma
This was the first insert we ever made. If we ever remake this it will be very different. But it was certainly a useful learning experience.
3D Printed InsertProject L
Our components didn't fit well into any of our boxes for this game, so we've printed a new box that houses the base game and both expansions.
3D Printed InsertWorms: The Board Game
This insert is for the Collector's Edition, each team gets a bin and there are only 3 other trays to streamline setup.
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