Compact Disc Organizer

Intro: Compact Disc Organizer

I needed  an organizer for compact discs for a cabinet I was building and none of the off-the-shelf ones I saw fit my requirements. Naturally, I did what any full-blooded Instructabler would do: I built my own at the Tecshop, http://www.techshop.ws. The overall dimensions were fixed by the shelf available and I wanted to maximize the space I had to work with.

STEP 1:

The first order of business was to measure a stack of five CDs in standard cases. I added a bit to the width and a scoatch to the stack depth and that established the "pocket" size. I had decided to use 1/4" MDF for the four sides and two column dividers and 1/8" MDF for the row partitions. After hand sketching my plans I did the parts layout in a 2D graphic program I have used extensively, DeltaCad 8. The finger joints, interlocking slots and slot and & tab dimensions were based on the material dimensions.

STEP 2:

Just for giggles I reproduced the part layout in SketchUp to do a fit check.

STEP 3:

I imported my DeltaCad drawings into Corel for the actual laser cutting layout. Someone is going to ask why I didn't just use Corel to start with. The answer is that I am more familiar with DeltaCad and that's where I started the layout.
It turned out that everything fit onto four 24" X 18" pieces. There was even room for the fit-check pieces shown in the next step.

STEP 4:

Before I cut the whole shootin' match, I made a test set of the joints. It turned out that things were a bit tight. That's not a good thing when there are this many pieces that need to go together. Once the corners are glued, the assembly is plenty rigid, so it's better to be a bit on the loose side for the sake of assembly.
I went back to the Corel layout drawing and "loosened up" the interlocking slot and tab & slot joints.

STEP 5:

Assemble the pieces for a fit check.

STEP 6:

After spray priming and painting all the pieces flat black,  I used five minute epoxy to bond the four outside corner joints. That is all that is really necessary.

STEP 7:

The organizer is epoxied into four holes drilled part-way through the shelf.

Comments

[Crafty Milt]

Great design and just what I need! I have a couple of questions:
1. What is MDF? (This will expose my ignorance!)
2. How did you do your laser cutting? Can you recommend some way to accomplish this for a novice do-it-yourselfer? I’m actually a retired laser/optical engineer but 76 now and have lost all my work contacts. Thanks, Milt

[togo1919]

Bob!

Are you planning to design one of these for your 33s and 45s?

[bgerens]

No, just my 8-tracks!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Nice design :)