Hardware storage and organization

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by Philmont629

We use the KOP bins from each year, and a bunch of 2003 blue bins. all loaded into a custom built rolling storage unit.

Yep, we tend to use those a lot, too, in addition to our two giant toolboxes and two smaller ones.

Plus about three shelves that we also use to store various things, like joysticks, wheels, etc.

[Cory]

How do teams store their spart parts and such at competitions?

We've use tackleboxes in the past for bolts, shaft collars, bearings, pneumatic fittings, etc. We've always had problems with the lids breaking off, among other things.

We tend to put small spare parts in little plastic tubs, or just dump everything into KOP bins.

This year we're trying to find a better way to do things. We've currently got a doublesided clear (clear makes things so much easier) tacklebox with nice solid latches on it that we keep all our most common small fasteners, snaprings, molex connectors, quick disconnect terminals, etc in.

We're looking at buying some nice steel tackleboxes from McMaster that will never fall apart for small stuff, but we've still not found a good way to store big things like motors, electronics parts, spare robot parts, etc.

Right now we're looking at buying a rolling toolchest that'll fit into an unused space in the middle of our toolcrate that we could organize all our larger spare parts in.

Anyone do anything that they think works well that hasn't been mentioned yet?

[kmcclary]

Originally Posted by Cory

Anyone do anything that they think works well that hasn't been mentioned yet?

In addition to the Plano 3700 storage boxes for most of our hardware items (see item 11 in this thread...), we also use pill bottles for VERY small items. Example: we use them to store tiny electrical components, and the various Digikey C-grid connector pieces for making our own PWM connectors. Different bottles hold the m and f pins, various shell sizes, dip switches, etc.

The best part is that they were FREE. We went to a local pharmacy and asked them to sponsor us! As a new sponsor, they simply donated a huge bag of standard tall orange pill bottles to us!

BTW, when choosing a bottle type/size, just be sure to...

A) Get the kind where the lids can be set to either childproof or not. This allows you to carry them in childproof mode to avoid spillage, yet still set them to non-childproof mode while in use, for speed. (This is normally either done by "flipping" the cap over, or push-pull snapping of a latch vertically.)

B) Plan ahead on bottle sizing, for compatibility with your box storage system. We found a size that allowed us to simply cut out two of the cross bars from a single Plano 3700 box, and they all nested perfectly inside, as two vertical rows.

[edit]
Oh yea... We typically peel and stick the Digikey label onto the bottles, and highlight pen the part number (or print a label with DTP). Not only does this mark the bottle quickly and neatly, it allows for faster reordering. To assist in sorting, we also use a basic Sharpie pen to make a unique note on the lid. Warning: use some clear shipping tape over the label, or the label's info will wear off quickly.
[/edit]

I hope this helps!

- Keith

[Dick Linn]

I've found that the "Lock & Lock" brand of food containers are handy for some items. You can get them at Walmart, Target and similar stores.

http://www.organize-everything.com/lolofostco.html

[JessR]

We use primarily the ZAG/Stanley professional organizer boxes for our hardware and spare parts storage at competitions and during build.
Overstock hardware is kept in a filing cabinet to refill the organizers as needed.

The nr. 14325 (shallow, 25 removable boxes) is a fantastic hardware organizer that used to be available at Lowes or HD. Unfortunately no longer sold in US (2006), though they are still sold in europe if you search Ebay.

The 14410 (deep 10 compartments) is good for controls and pneumatic spares, ie solenoids, spikes etc.
The Plano boxes are excellent for wire terminals pneumatic fittings and other small fittings.
The ZAG's have the advantage of the removable boxes which really speed your work at times and result in fewer misfiled parts.

We have a separate labeled organizer for each hardware type:
#10 hardware, 1/4-20 hardware, wire connectors, pneumatic fittings etc.

Grab the one you need, walk over to the bench and start working on your assembly.

See here:
http://stanleytools.com/default.asp?...VIEW=ThumbView