I recently acquired a low-end 3d printer (0.3mm extrusion head) and after a few practice prints I decided to put my new skills to the test. I wanted to create a Raspberry Pi case, but I thought that would be a little boring. So the idea I settled on was creating something akin to a blade server - an enclosure that takes care of power and LAN distribution, that houses several Pis. Overkill? Absolutely!

Armed with $10 calipers, a few RasPis to measure, and Sketchup Make, I created the Raspberry Pi Rack!

The Pi-Rack. 6 Raspberry Pis in one enclosure

I posted many more photos, and even the source 3d model files you want to print your own, over on Hackaday.

The bill of materials isn’t crazy either:

  • 4x 1/4" by 6" threaded rods e.g. from Lowes

  • 16x 1/4" lock nuts

  • 8x 1/4" wing nugs (for easy disassembly - can absolutely be replaced with lock nuts for a more permanent assembly)

  • 24x 1/4" by 1/2" nylon washers

  • 1x male molex connector (I salvaged mine from computer fan parts)

  • 1x prototype board

  • 1x 6-pin SIP header

  • 1x 6-pin SIP header, 90˚ angle

  • 2x 6-pin SIP header, straight

  • 12x M to F breadboard jumper

  • 12x F to F breadboard jumpers

  • 5 volt Ethernet switch

  • 3x screw + nut sets (these are to secure the switch, I can’t recall what I used. Something like a M3x15mm screw).

  • 12x RJ45 (ethernet) headers

  • Cat5/e cable (a couple feet should do the trick).

  • ATX power supply. Any desktop computer has one of these.

Not counting the Raspberry Pis, all the supplies come in easily under $100. Not bad.

Happy hacking!

This project was featured on the Hackaday.com Homepage!