PrintrBoard Raspberry Pi Enclosure w/ Fan

youmagine

When I upgraded my PrintrBot Simple Metal Silver with a hotbed, disaster struck! The device caught on fire, forcing me to take drastic action. To mitigate the risk of another electrical mishap, I relocated my PrintrBoard from under the hotbed to prevent increased heat buildup in the power cable, which was causing a vicious cycle of escalating temperatures and resistance. However, simply moving the PrintrBoard to a nearby location posed its own set of hazards, as it left me with an opportunity to create a protective enclosure for this vital component. This project presented the perfect chance to design and build an enclosure that would not only safeguard my PrintrBoard but also provide a cool and comfortable environment for my Raspberry Pi 2, which I use as a dedicated slave device for my PrintrBot. By utilizing AstroPi (AstroBox) from AstroPrint, I was able to streamline the process of integrating my Raspberry Pi with my PrintrBot. I specifically designed this enclosure for my Rev.D PrintrBoard and Raspberry Pi 2, but I have included SolidEdge part files that can be easily modified using either SolidEdge or SolidWorks to accommodate different hardware configurations. Additionally, I have provided versions without logos as well as logo files in AutoCad and SolidEdge formats to cater to diverse design preferences. Some parts of the enclosure feature insets for nuts, which I based on 3mm bolts and nuts. However, I used 2.5mm fasteners for the Raspberry Pi 2 mounts due to their smaller size. If a nut inset is absent from a particular part, it's because I typically use a tap to create those holes in ABS and PLA materials, as they both respond well to tapping. To utilize this enclosure as designed, you will need to drill a 19mm (~3/4 inch) hole in the side of your PrintrBot Simple Metal Silver for cable access. Once you've printed the parts, you can use them as a template to mark the precise location where you want to mount the hole. I hope you enjoy this project and find it helpful in protecting your valuable electronics.