My RetroPie 3D Printed Case (again)

smartroad

Hi All :)

I have been working on my case for RetroPie for years LOL Since I have updated to a RPi3 I have noticed that the machine is overheating as the case had no ventilation ports. Even with a heatsink it was still a thermal problem (as there is no where for the heat to go - doh!)

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So on with the 5th version of this case. I have removed the SNES ports on the front of this one as they don't offer the number of buttons for some of the emulators I want to use. I brought a panel mount USB extension like this one:
This pulls off two of the ports at the back of the machine and routes them to the front for easier access.

I have also added in a small 30mm fan for this version which blows straight down onto the CPU and a small vent on the right side to exhaust out of - although there are probably enough gaps for that not to be totally needed. The fan with have a primitive temperature control with it, by a Python script running in the background. Still deciding how to run it, either with a simple transistor switch to go between high and low, or use a couple of pins and a small ATTINY to be able to adjust a little more depending on temperature.

Because the RPi3 has a friction fit SD card slot I have opened the bottom up to expose it for easier access as well. Printing at the moment. Will update here if anyone is interested - the files will end up on Thingverse or similar if anyone wants to make their own once I have confirmed it all works :)

mattrixk

@smartroad I'd like to see it but the pictures are broken for me.

smartroad

@mattrixk said in My RetroPie 3D Printed Case (again):

@smartroad I'd like to see it but the pictures are broken for me.

Apologies, links died, should be working now!

Have it printed and attached a heat sink and fan to it all. Tested while running a SNES game. Previously the thermal icon came on and I saw in PUTTY that the CPU was at 80C! Now it is sitting with the same emulator and game at about 51 with the fan on full. Over the weekend I plan to make the simple circuit to control the fan so it isn't on all the time. Small fans tend to be noisy!

mattrixk

@smartroad yep, they're working now. Looks really cool. Did you add the rounded overflow bit to cover the cables coming out so it looks neater? That's a really nice idea.

smartroad

@mattrixk said in My RetroPie 3D Printed Case (again):

@smartroad yep, they're working now. Looks really cool. Did you add the rounded overflow bit to cover the cables coming out so it looks neater? That's a really nice idea.

Yeah. The one thing that has bugged me since the first RPi was the cable management. It improved somewhat with the 4 USB version as the connectors are only on two sides, but still I didn't like the idea of the cables jutting out the side of the case. I also wanted a nicer finish to the thing, making it look a little more like a console, and to give it a design flourish!

mattrixk

@smartroad It's something that I haven't seen anyone else do when making a custom case (not counting ones inside bigger cases like a NES/SNES etc). It's something I'm definitely going to keep in mind for if I ever make a custom case of my own.