Recommended Free Tools
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Free scan · exact hardware match
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
Free scan · Windows 10 & 11
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Free scan · under a minute
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Boxes.py entered 2024 as a parametric laser-cut box generator and ended it as something broader: a community-built library for workshop storage, wall systems, frames, holders and functional devices. Florian Festi’s December 22, 2024 retrospective, summarized by Hackaday on January 1, 2025, shows a project gaining both design breadth and contributor maturity.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The practical result is simple: if your project can be built from flat sheet material, Boxes.py may let you generate a configurable starting point instead of drawing every panel by hand.
What Boxes.py actually does
Boxes.py is an open-source Python project that generates cut geometry for laser-cut projects. Its browser interface provides ready-made parametric generators; its Python API lets developers write or extend generators of their own. It creates files for fabrication, not finished objects, and it is not a general-purpose 3D CAD system.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
The gallery covers conventional finger-jointed and dovetail-style boxes, but also flexible enclosures, trays, shelves, wall-mounted organizers, hole patterns, gears, pulleys, frames and holders. Depending on the generator, geometry can include flex cuts, hinges, slots, mounting holes and other laser-friendly features. Typical stock includes plywood, acrylic, cardboard and MDF, subject to the material restrictions and safety requirements of the particular machine.
That parametric approach matters when dimensions change. Instead of redrawing six panels after changing an enclosure’s width, you change the relevant setting and regenerate the layout. The same principle applies to material thickness, compartment counts, mounting patterns and many other options.
Start at the Boxes.py gallery to see the available generators. Its contents are dynamic, and the gallery includes an explicit “Unstable” section, so entries should not be treated as equally mature.
What changed during 2024
Festi’s December 2024 retrospective groups the year’s work into a much wider set of use cases than simple storage boxes. The list below follows those uses rather than implying that every entry has the same level of polish.
Rank #2
- Includes Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Model B with 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
- Includes Pre-Loaded 32GB EVO+ Micro SD Card (Class 10), USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Premium High-Gloss Raspberry Pi 4 Case with Integrated Fan Mount, CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply (US Plug) with Noise Filter, Set of Heat Sinks, Display Cable - 6 foot (Supports up to 4K60p)
- CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch (On/Off Power Switch for Raspberry Pi 4)
Functional and mission-oriented projects
- AirPurifier: a box arranged around one or more filters and PC fans, created in collaboration with Naomi Wu. The cut parts are only one part of the project; fans, filters, power and airflow design remain your responsibility.
- CoinBankSafe: a hinged box with a top slot and dial features for a simple piggy-bank-like safe.
- BrickSorter: a sieve-style design for sorting building bricks.
- DiceTower: a compact tower using internal angled walls to guide dice.
- ZBeam: a cable-channel-style design with a mounting tab and a U-channel option.
Storage and workshop organization
- GridfinityDrillBox: a drill-box variant adapted to the Gridfinity ecosystem.
- StackableBins: stackable bins built around a stackable-edge concept.
- WallStackableBin: a wall-mounted version compatible with French-cleat or slat-wall-style mounting.
- WallHopper: a deeper wall-mounted storage design.
- WallRack: a simpler rack with screw-mounting holes.
- CompartmentBox: a sliding-lid box that combines a compartment grid with card-box-like construction.
- HobbyCase: a case with configurable fixed or removable shelves for small objects.
Gift, display and decorative work
- RoundedRegularBox: a rounded version of a regular polygonal box; the retrospective noted that a finished sample image was still missing.
- FlexBook: a flexible, book-shaped design with a sliding latch and rounded corners.
- SideHingeBox: a side-hinged box using Cherry MX switches as spring-loaded latches, with an OpenSCAD-based keycap element.
- PhotoFrame: a layered picture-frame generator.
- ShadowBox: a frame for multilayer paper shadow art.
- Matrix: a frame or enclosure for an LED matrix; the user supplies the WS2812B matrix and power supply.
Beyond boxes
- BookHolder: a stand for books that can also support a laptop or tablet.
- FatBallDispenser: a design that marks compound-angle cuts instead of relying entirely on finger joints.
- SkadisBoard: a configurable pegboard inspired by IKEA’s workshop-storage format.
The PizzaShovel is useful context for this expansion, although the retrospective places it at the end of 2023 rather than among the calendar-year 2024 additions.
Why SkadisBoard matters
SkadisBoard demonstrates the shift from isolated projects toward modular workshop infrastructure. You can specify rows and columns, material thickness, burn correction, labels, reference markings, tabs, QR codes, inner-corner treatment and spacing. The page describes approximately 5 mm material for the board and approximately 4 mm for accessories.
Those dimensions describe the design’s intended fit, not an IKEA certification or guarantee of interchangeability. Wall-mounted boxes and holders also depend on the selected skadis wall type and the spacing used by the particular accessory.
How customization works in practice
Generator settings
Controls differ by generator, but commonly include:
Rank #3
- Not including the Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB), the Crowpi advanced version comes with the Raspberry Pi 5
- ELECROW Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5, CrowPi is equipped with a 9-inch HD touchscreen along with a camera; All the regular components used in DIY electronics are packed into the CrowPi development board, such as LCD, LED matrix, buzzer, light sensor, PIR sensor, ultrasonic sensor, IR sensor, etc
- Raspberry Pi Sensors: The Crowpi raspberry pi 5 programming kit is jam-packed with lots of buttons such as 19 different sensors in a tidy easy to use package; You don't have to wait and wire things
- Build Quality: Solid ABS shell and well made components in one place make it strong and convenient to travel
- Programming Lessons: This raspberry pi 5 learning kit ships with step by step instructions and provides 21 lessons to take you through identifying components reading code and running it in the terminal
- Outside width, height and depth
- Actual sheet thickness
- Burn or kerf correction
- Joint, lid and hinge choices
- Compartment counts and placement
- Mounting style, holes, tabs and spacing
- Labels, reference rectangles and QR-code output
- Inner-corner style and export format
The SkadisBoard interface illustrates how extensive one generator’s controls can be. Do not assume that another generator exposes the same fields.
What “parametric” means
Changing an enclosure’s dimensions regenerates all related panels. Changing stock thickness regenerates the joint geometry. A different number of pegboard rows, a new compartment layout or a revised electronics footprint can produce a new cut file without rebuilding the drawing manually. The available parameters remain generator-specific.
Kerf and burn correction
Kerf is the material removed by the laser beam. Boxes.py exposes a related fit adjustment commonly labelled burn correction. The SkadisBoard page says that larger values produce a tighter fit, but there is no universal correct number.
Your value depends on the laser’s optics, material, thickness, speed, power, focus and whether a path is cutting, scoring or engraving. Test a small joint or calibration pattern first. A setting that fits plywood may be wrong for acrylic or cardboard. Excessively tight joints can split plywood or become impossible to assemble; loose joints may need glue or fasteners.
Rank #4
- Fully assembled for plug-and-play operation
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM
- 256 GB PCIe Pi NVMe SSD (Pre-loaded with Pi 64-Bit OS)
- M.2 HAT+
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Pi 5
A reliable first-project workflow
- Choose a mature generator. Avoid the gallery’s “Unstable” entries for a first cut unless you are prepared to inspect and troubleshoot the output.
- Measure your actual stock. Enter the measured thickness, not the nominal label on the sheet.
- Run a fit test. Cut a small joint pattern from the same material and settings you will use for the project.
- Set burn correction. Use the measured result to target a sliding or press fit appropriate to the design.
- Generate the file. Review the preview for missing panels, duplicate paths, open contours and unexpectedly large dimensions.
- Check it in the machine software. Confirm units, scale and the distinction between cutting, scoring and engraving. The available export formats and exact machine workflow can change, so verify them in the live interface.
- Frame or preview the job. Use a low-power outline or equivalent machine preview to confirm placement before committing material.
- Cut a small test or one panel first. This catches scale, focus and material problems before a full sheet is consumed.
- Assemble without force. Stop if a joint is crushing fragile material; regenerate with a different correction or fit.
- Iterate in the generator. Adjust parameters and regenerate rather than editing every panel independently.
Export and machine limits
A generated SVG, DXF or other geometry file is not automatically machine-ready. Import it into the software that drives your cutter, then confirm scale, units, line widths and color conventions. Inspect for duplicate paths and open contours, and check the preview before cutting.
Laser geometry is not automatically suitable for CNC routing. CNC requires toolpaths, allowances for cutter diameter, rounded internal corners or dog-bone reliefs, and a separate CAM setup. The Hackaday discussion around the project reflects that distinction; a laser file should be treated as design geometry, not as a completed CNC program.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe community became part of the product
In the 2024 retrospective, Festi reports that many contributors supplied descriptions, assembly instructions, photographs and test SVGs. Some pull requests had become complete enough to rival original project work, while the maintainer still handled finishing tasks such as thumbnails and examples.
The codebase also gained pre-commit-based continuous integration. CI generates designs with default settings and checks for changes, while build configuration moved to pyproject.toml. Cleanup of remaining Python 2-era code was still in progress. These changes matter because they make a growing generator library easier to review and less dependent on one person’s output.
Best Value
- 【What you Get】You will get 1*Pi 5 8GB Single Board,1*RasTech Case,1*Active Cooler,1*Screwdriver,1*Installation instructions,12-month free warranty, lifetime service, 24-hour prompt and friendly response.
- 【More Connectors】There are two USB 3.0 ports(5Gbps simultaneously) and two USB 2.0 ports, which triple total bandwidth ,support any combination of up to two cameras or displays. Peak SD card performance is doubled through support for the SDR104 high-speed mode. It provides a smooth desktop experience for you. Offer Gigabit Ethernet and a PCIe interface, along with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0/BLE wireless capability. The RasTech Pi 5 Kit use the new 27W 5.1V 5A USB-C power connector.
- 【 Support Dual 4Kp60 Display 】Each of the two microHDMI sockets can control a 4K display at 60 Hertz, now support HDR, offering super HD video for media streaming projects. RPi 5 is the first RPi model that comes with a PCI Express port (PCIe 2.0 x1 with 500 MB/s) to attach SSDs (requires separate M.2 HAT).
- 【 Excellent Chips And Applications】Pi 5 is a full-size Pi computer using silicon built in-house at Pi. The RP1 “southbridge” provides the bulk of the I/O capabilities for Pi 5. Pi 5 is more friendly and convenient in the development of Internet of Things, Web development, machine identification, automatic control and other electronic equipment applications and network.
- 【 Faster CPU, Better GPU 】 Pi 5 features a Broadcom BCM2712 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz, it delivers a 2–3× increase in CPU performance relative to RaspberryPi 4. The 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU is compatible to OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, substantial uplift in graphics performance. Pi 5 Offers lightning-fast CPU speed, a PCI Express interface, a Real Time Clock (RTC) and a power button and runs significantly cooler than Pi 4.
Where Boxes.py can fail
- Loose joints: recheck measured thickness, burn correction, focus and machine calibration.
- Tight joints: reduce the correction or revise the fit; never force brittle plywood parts.
- Wrong scale: verify units and a known reference dimension after import.
- Uncut sections: check focus, lens cleanliness, power, speed, air assist, stock flatness and material suitability.
- Charred edges: reduce heat exposure or change settings; masking and air assist may help where appropriate.
- Warped panels: flatten or replace the stock; parametric geometry cannot straighten it.
- Missing hardware: confirm whether the design expects hinges, magnets, screws, fans, filters, LEDs, switches, power supplies or other purchased parts.
- Unstable generators: inspect the preview and source, or select a more mature alternative.
- Unsafe material: verify composition and follow the machine manufacturer’s and local safety guidance. Never assume a sheet is laser-safe.
Boxes.py versus other ways to build the same project
| Approach | Where Boxes.py has an advantage | Where the alternative is stronger |
|---|---|---|
| 3D printing | Large flat enclosures, replaceable panels, wood or acrylic finishes and no printer-build-volume constraint in the same way. | Curves, integrated bosses, complex internal channels and small intricate brackets. |
| Manual CAD | Common box-like structures, built-in joint logic and rapid dimensional variants. | Unusual fasteners, curved surfaces, exact purchased-component integration and complex mechanical assemblies. |
| Static laser templates | Material-thickness changes, fit correction, parametric dimensions and specialized generators. | A one-off beginner project where a polished, fixed pattern is simpler. |
| CNC routing | Laser-friendly flat geometry and thin-sheet construction. | Projects requiring CAM toolpaths, cutter-radius compensation, dog-bone reliefs or substantial material removal. |
Who should use it?
Boxes.py is a strong choice when you are cutting flat stock and expect to build an enclosure, organizer, tray, holder, rack, frame or modular storage component whose dimensions may change. It is especially useful for makers who want a fast starting point and for developers willing to extend a Python generator.
Choose conventional CAD when you need complex 3D geometry or production-oriented tolerance validation. Choose 3D printing for curved, integrated or highly detailed parts. Choose a static template when the dimensions are fixed and you value a finished assembly guide over parameter flexibility.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →In practical terms, 2024’s importance was not a single headline release or a verified version number. It was the project’s evolution from a useful box generator into a broader, community-driven fabrication platform—one that now covers workshop infrastructure and functional objects while still demanding the same careful calibration, material checks and machine-specific preparation as any laser-cut design.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
