Ultimately Most Compact Mini-ITX Case

thingiverse

With the emergence of IoT, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi, along with other digital electronics trends, we've overlooked the Mini-ITX motherboard's potential. This project has been on my mind for years, dating back to before the advent of 3D printing and prototyping, which was mainly done using expensive billet materials or sheet metals. However, thanks to 3D printing's advancements over a decade later, my first Mini-ITX case finally became a reality. This is just a prototype, with many flaws and areas for improvement, but I decided to share it anyway. The case is incredibly compact, requiring me to desolder the audio stack to make it fit. To ensure compatibility, users should opt for short memory modules. I even hollowed out a 1mm deep pocket for the DIMM to accommodate them. Additionally, about 0.5-0.75mm of clearance is needed around the picoPSU, but it's not too troublesome. There are approximately 2mm of clearance on all sides, which isn't much. Closing this gap would make it difficult to insert the motherboard, so a little tilt-and-twist maneuver is required. This case is remarkably compact. Despite some usability issues, this case appears to be functional, but several flaws became apparent after completing the two-piece print job. The fan exhaust holes are slightly misaligned, but airflow is still possible. A 1mm slot for the picoPSU needs to be created, similar to the memory slot. Reinforcement along the large surfaces is necessary, and the lid mounting holes aren't ideal, although they do work. Considering the case's compact design, I forgot to account for the mounting screws and holes, but it still functions. To improve this case, a back plate should be added to prevent it from being fully open-backed. Since each motherboard company has its unique layout, users will need to provide their own specifications. Supports on the lid can enhance the overall solid feel of the case by accommodating towering components like heatsinks. Opening the HDD mount for shock-absorber protection instead of a direct mount would better safeguard the hard drive. Provisions for rubber feet or bumpers should also be included. For future improvements in Version 2, I plan to add: A compartment for an RC LiPo battery, along with protection and charge circuits. I'm currently considering 4S 14.8V, 5500mAh battery packs. Finding long and narrow LiPo packs is quite challenging. Provisions for corner bumpers are also necessary, as this case should be designed to withstand being tossed into a bag. Recesses for screw heads can enhance the overall design. The lid was designed with 4-40 screws in mind, while the motherboard holes were drilled for 6-32 screws. The hard drive uses M3 screws based on the standard 2.5" drive mounting. To ensure structural integrity, I could have added internal bosses for the HDD to conceal the mounting holes, but sandwiching the drive between two parts would be more secure, especially with 3D printed components. This case is best printed using ABS or PETG materials, but I used orange PLA for mine. Orange doesn't make it blend in with a pile of black gadgets. The print settings include three shells, two top/bottom layers (three might be better), and 10% rectangular infill (five to seven percent at 30 degrees would likely be more suitable). The EPIA-M motherboard is an old model, but any Mini-ITX board will fit in this case, provided the user is aware of the fan and memory placement. If you have a different Mini-ITX board that doesn't resemble the EPIA-M, please let me know, and I can design a custom lid for your board if time permits. Simply share a datasheet or photo of the board with me.