v2 stacking modules on NAS · Reconsidering concept · Pick a direction — 2026-04-18
Updated Saturday, July 18, 2026
⚠️
Direction Needed — Pick Option A or B below before printing anything new
After deeper research, the v2 stacking module design is functional but underwhelming — it's a chip organizer, not a poker case.
The serious poker chip community doesn't print the whole case; they buy a $35 Apache case and 3D print precision racks to drop inside.
Two real options are laid out below. Come back to this page, pick one, and tell Aria.
Pick a Direction
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Option A — Apache Case + Custom Racks
Aria's recommendation · What serious players actually do
Buy a Harbor Freight Apache 4800 (~$35). 3D print 10 precision chip racks that drop into the foam cutout. The printing is focused — just the racks, not the shell. The case provides: aluminum latches, carry handle, lockable lid, airtight foam.
Result: Looks like a $200+ poker case for $35 + ~1 spool PETG
Print time: ~8–12 hrs total (racks only, no case shell)
Buy: Apache 4800 at Harbor Freight — ~$35
Aria builds: Custom racks sized to your chip diameter + Apache interior dims
Proven by: The pokerchipforum.com community — Pelican 1400/1200 + Apache are the standard. Active threads with STL files available.
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Option B — Fully Printed Briefcase
Ambitious · Fully custom · Impressive if done right
A flat clamshell briefcase designed for the P2S. Hinged lid, side latches, top handle. Chip racks inside on a textured floor. Printed in sections that bolt together. Looks like a poker case, not a chip organizer.
Result: 100% custom, nothing like it exists off-the-shelf
Print time: ~40–60 hrs total (case sections + racks)
Tradeoff: More printing, more risk. But if it lands, it's a conversation piece at every home game.
What happens to v2? The stacking module STL files are still on the NAS and still work. If you want a quick functional solution right now — print them.
But if you want something you're actually proud of, pick A or B and Aria redesigns from scratch.
What the Research Found
What serious players use
Pelican 1510 / Apache 4800 cases (~$35–$150)
3D printed racks/barrels that drop into foam
Custom wooden display cabinets with acrylic fronts
Milwaukee Packout modular tool cases
Vintage cutlery boxes lined with velvet + custom racks
Why the current v2 falls short
Open-top trays stacked = looks like drawer organizer
No case "feel" — no lid, no latches, no handle
Carry base is a 10mm flat tray — not impressive
Nobody at the serious end prints the whole case in plain PETG
The community focuses printing on precision racks, not shells
Sources: pokerchipforum.com community threads · casinosupply.com · Harbor Freight Apache case · Printables/MakerWorld rack models
Files on NAS
poker-chip-module.stl
Print × 6 · 251.5 × 114.5 × 67mm
186 chips per module
poker-chip-carry-base.stl
Print × 1 · 255.9 × 118.9 × 10mm
Module 1 pockets in 6mm
poker-chip-carry-cap.stl
Print × 1 · 255.1 × 118.1 × 40mm
Snap lip + arch handle on top
⚠️ Carry Cap: rotate X+180° in Bambu Studio before slicing — prints arch-side down, eliminates all overhangs.
Decisions Locked In
DesignOption C — Stacking Modules
Chips per column31 (room for 2–3 more at top)
Columns per module6
Chips per module186 (6 × 31)
Total modules6 → 1,116 chip capacity
MaterialPETG
LabelsNone — chips are mixed freely per column
Chip orientationStanding on edge — casino rack style (open top)
Travel solutionCarry Base (grip slots, rubber feet) + Carry Cap (arch handle)
The Module — Every Angle
Each module is a self-contained tray. 6 channels, open top for loading. Chips stand on their edge — casino rack style — with their faces pointing front and back. You load chips the same way you'd rack them at a table: tip them in from the top standing upright, face-to-face in a row.
Looking Down — chips stand on edge, faces toward you
Side Cross-Section — chips face-on (casino rack style)
Top-Down View — open top, chip columns visible
How Modules Stack
Modules stack directly on each other — flat bottom of module N rests on the top rim of module N-1. Module 1 registers into the Carry Base pocket (4-sided 2mm rim, 6mm deep). The Carry Cap snap lip grips the top module's outer walls. For shelf storage, gravity does all the work.
Module Stacking — flat bottom, gravity holds
Full Stack — 6 modules assembled
The Carry System — Home vs. Travel
Two extra printed pieces. At home, the stack sits on the Carry Base (a shallow pocket tray) with the Carry Cap as a dust cover. For travel, the Cap's snap lip clicks onto the top module and the base registers Module 1 — grip the arch handle on the Cap and carry the whole stack in one hand.
Carry Base — pocket tray, grip slots, rubber feet
Carry Cap — snap lip + arch handle on top
Travel Mode — assembled and ready to carry
What Gets Printed
Every piece, how many, and what fits on the P2S bed.
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Module
251.5 × 114.5 × 67mm · PETG · 4.5mm margin on P2S 256mm bed · est. 6–8 hr print each
Core tray — chips stand on edge, casino rack style. 6 channels × 31 chips = 186 per module. Open top. Flat bottom stacks on carry base or previous module.
× 6
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Carry Base
255.9 × 118.9 × 10mm · PETG · fits P2S bed · est. 1–2 hr print
Bottom platform. 2mm rim pocket (6mm deep) registers Module 1 on all 4 sides. Oval grip slots on front/back for carrying. 4 rubber-foot bumps on underside.
× 1
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Carry Cap
255.1 × 118.1 × 40mm (inc. arch) · PETG · flip 180° in Bambu Studio before slicing · est. 2–3 hr print
Snap lip (8mm, 0.3mm clearance) presses over Module 6 top rim — firm but hand-removable. Arch handle on top for one-handed carry of the full stack. No supports needed when printed arch-down.
× 1
Total prints: 8 jobs
Estimated print time: ~45–55 hours total (run 1–2 modules overnight)
Filament: Generic PETG — ~1.5–2 spools depending on infill density
Strategy: Print 1 module first. Load your chips. Verify they stand freely with slight resistance (not rattle, not stuck). Adjust chip_clearance in SCAD if needed, re-render, re-print. Then run the remaining 5.
Chip Fit — How the Column Channels Work
Each column is an open-top slot sized to the chip with a small clearance so chips drop in and stack freely but don't rattle around.
Snug — no rattle
Floor seats bottom chip
Easy to grab a stack
✅ Files on NAS — Start with One Module
Open poker-chip-module.stl in Bambu Studio. Slice with the settings below and run one module.
Load your chips standing on edge — they should stand freely with slight resistance.
If too tight: tell Aria and I'll increase chip_clearance from 0.50 to 0.75mm, re-render, and push a new STL.
If too loose: I'll drop it to 0.30mm.
Once fit is confirmed, print 5 more modules, then the base and cap.