[Animats]

"That's what a Vac-U-Form can do!"[1]

TechShop used to have a medium sized vacuum forming machine, but it was lost in one of their moves. Those are useful for tool trays. Lay down all the tools for some kit, vacuum-form a tray, and put the tray in a case for the kit. Often used in aerospace, where you want to make sure nobody left a wrench inside the engine or fuel tank.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCvgvWiZNe8

[Gigachad]

That sounds a million times easier than modeling gridfinity trays.

[MisterTea]

It is much easier and faster. My friends father had a vacuum forming business, mostly making blister packs. I even worked with him fixing a big packaging machine in Brooklyn. You can make a primitive version with a plywood box with drilled holes and a vacuum cleaner.

People who have been in manufacturing for a long time understand all the methods used and the common theme is simplicity. There are tons of great uses for 3D printing but like robot arms, I see them misused time and time again to perform tasks a much simpler process/mechanism can perform. Go watch the TV show "How It's Made" and some of the machinery and mechanisms are delightfully simple. This is what universities don't teach their students and they graduate only knowing how to wield giant, complex hammers.

[Gigachad]

I wouldn’t say 3D printing is a misuse, even in this case, vacuum forming a tray insert is much faster, but I don’t have space for a vacuum former in my apartment but I can easily fit a 3D printer which is much more versatile.

[SoftTalker]

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

[JKCalhoun]

Agree. So often, after immersing myself in the digital for a stretch, coming back to analog can feel almost meditative.

[andyfilms1]

Gridfinity is fun, but just about any other organizational method is easier and faster.

[ludicrousdispla]

reminds me of a certain car trunk scene in Simon Pegg's "Kill Me Three Times" (although it used a custom foam insert and not vacuum-formed plastic)