Tevo Tarantula Control Box

myminifactory

The control boxes on Thingiverse for the Tevo Tarantula are oversized and attempt to incorporate everything into one case. I prefer having the power supply exposed, and since I've already designed a case for the MOSFET expansion board, I don't need space for that either. This case is built to house the original mainboard, the control panel, a 6015 fan, a 6x2 barrier strip, and a Raspberry Pi Model B Revision 2. The Pi is mounted individually upside down on the top plate, making it easy to customize if you need a different model Pi. The back plate has holes for USB connectors on both the mainboard and the Pi, allowing for simple connection of a USB wireless dongle to the Pi. You can connect the Pi and the mainboard with a short USB cable externally, which makes it easy to link a computer to the mainboard for firmware updates. There are also holes for inserting various input/output connections to the board. On the left-hand side is a football-shaped cutout to aid in accessing the SD card. The right side features a web-style grill covering the fan, matching the Tarantula theme. The front panel includes a grill for air circulation. I run my fan sucking air out, but you can blow air inwards if you prefer. One thing to note is that the Pi is already a tight fit, and to get the power connector to fit, I had to trim the plastic away almost to the metal connector. If you have access to a 90° adapter, it might work better, or you can solder the power wires directly to the Pi. Currently, my Pi runs on an AC power adapter, but if I can find/design a regulated 12vdc-5vdc converter, I plan on powering the Pi internally from the main power supply. To assemble this project, you will need: 3mmx5mm screws (32), 4mmx25 screws (4), 4mm nuts (4), 4 washers, a 6x2 barrier strip (optional).