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    My RetroPie 3D Printed Case (again)

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    • S
      smartroad
      last edited by 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: alt text
      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 :)

      mattrixkM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • mattrixkM
        mattrixk @smartroad
        last edited by

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

        My ES themes: MetaPixel | Spare | Io | Indent

        S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          smartroad @mattrixk
          last edited by

          @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!

          mattrixkM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mattrixkM
            mattrixk @smartroad
            last edited by

            @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.

            My ES themes: MetaPixel | Spare | Io | Indent

            S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • S
              smartroad @mattrixk
              last edited by

              @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!

              mattrixkM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • mattrixkM
                mattrixk @smartroad
                last edited by

                @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.

                My ES themes: MetaPixel | Spare | Io | Indent

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