Creating a Simple Box in OpenSCAD

This tutorial shows how to design a basic, parametric box using OpenSCAD. Perfect for 3D printing or as a base for more complex designs.

Set up your parameters

We define variables for the box's size and wall thickness so we can easily tweak it later:

w = 25;     // Outer width of the box
d = 15;     // Outer depth/length of the box
h = 10;     // Outer height of the box
wall = 2;   // Wall thickness

Statements must end with a ; (semicolon).

Create the outer shell

cube([width, length, height]);

If all sides are the same you could do cube(size). You don't need the brackets for a single value.

Hollow out the middle

difference(){
  cube([w, d, h]);
  translate([wall, wall, wall])
  cube([w-2*wall, d-2*wall, h]);
}

difference() removes the second object from the first. translate() moves the second object. The first cube is the outer shell, the second is the hollow part.

Make it a module

module box() {
  difference(){
    cube([w, d, h]);
    translate([wall, wall, wall])
    cube([w-2*wall, d-2*wall, h]);
  }
}

module acts like a function. You must call the module for it to run with box();.

Add a lid

module lid() {
  cube([w, d, wall]);
  translate([wall, wall, wall])
  cube([w-2*wall, d-2*wall, wall]);
}
lid();

Final code

// Simple Box Design
w = 25; d = 15; h = 10; wall = 2;

module box() {
  difference(){
    cube([w, d, h]);
    translate([wall, wall, wall])
    cube([w-2*wall, d-2*wall, h]);
  }
}

module lid() {
  cube([w, d, wall]);
  translate([wall, wall, wall])
  cube([w-2*wall, d-2*wall, wall]);
}

box();
translate([w+5, 0, 0]) { lid(); }