Building your own Raspberry Pi case? 3 things to consider

When picking up a Raspberry Pi for the first time, you’ll notice one glaring fact: it doesn’t have a single case. This is not an oversight, however. Rather, the Raspberry Pi comes in this form, so you can add a case that’s right for your project.

However, you can’t just drop your Raspberry Pi into the nearest cardboard box. There are certain things you need to know about before you start building a case for your Pi.

Planning Your Pi Box

Before you start, take a pencil and paper and put your new mini computer on it. Draw around to get the contour of Pi, repeating for all sides. This will give you an idea of the various components that need to be placed and the connectors that need holes.

Also note the location of the Raspberry Pi SoC, which can overheat with prolonged use. In your case, there should be a hole for the hot air to escape (note that while some heatsinks are available for the Raspberry Pi, they will work with the hole, not with it).

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With these diagrams, you should have enough to start planning your business, remembering to leave enough room for your cables and SD card to get to your destination. For example, an HDMI connector will need enough space around the port for rubber insulation.

Also consider the needs of your project. There is a good chance that your Raspberry Pi will use other hardware, from a Wi-Fi dongle to a webcam or even a display (various expansion accessories are available). Where should they be in relation to Pi? Do your own Raspberry Pi case need extra dimensions to fit them?

Get It Right: Get the Purpose

In most cases, you will probably rely on one of the many off-the-shelf Raspberry Pi cases. These are great for using the Pi for multi-purpose projects, but may not be quite the right fit for your mini space program or Raspberry Pi home security system.

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You will need to spend some time figuring out what kind of project you are working on and what special requirements you may need in a particular case.

If this is a case for a special project, then you may have to consider methods (although there are several suitable reliable options) what you can buy or borrow ideas). On the other hand, your Raspberry Pi case build may be purely for personal customization, perhaps inspired by Lego glut.

The decisions here will determine which materials you choose for the case.

The Best Materials for Making Your Own Raspberry Pi Case

A variety of materials can be used for the Raspberry Pi case, from the simplest cardboard box («The Punnet», plans for which you can find on the Raspberry Pi website) to Lego, project boxes from your local electronics store, old hardware you might would lie around and even two pieces of wood with a quartet of nuts and bolts holding it all together in each corner (perhaps the cheapest option that can be produced for about $10).

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Again, the choice you make should be driven by the needs of the project, but you may also need to spend some time experimenting with what’s available.

For example, for projects that require the Raspberry Pi to be attached to some kind of vehicle (whether it be a weather balloon, a remote-controlled car, or an airplane, etc.), you should consider a case where impact resistance (or impact resistance) is combined. power distribution) with ease. You could make yourself a payout between the two.

When considering weight, don’t forget to factor in the impact of cables and any portable power source you may be using.

Putting it all together

So, Raspberry Pi case builders, what do we get?

Plan your business. Consider heat distribution, the size of your cables, and any expansion boards or units you intend to connect.