3D printable case

[paulsijben]

Has anyone come up with a 3D printable case that mimics the styling of the original synths?

[craigyjp]

I built it into this one to make it more professional....

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Didn't think about racking it. Nice idea. Easy enough to fold a case up.

[ebrown3k]

I am working on a 3D printed case in the form factor of a Korg Volca. The issue is it will take some special parts to get it to fit in the limited height complicating the build. I will also be custom designing it for the specific Pi version and DAC I ordered so I don't know how useful it would really be for a wide range of users.

[dcoredump]

My case is not ready yet, but here are some pictures.

The DIN-MIDI is currently missing and I will add a (passive) volume pot. After that I will paint it black (only the metal parts).

[probonopd]

For extra authenticity, I recommend a 3D printed knob in this color:

[paulsijben]

number of knobs (for comparison) are being printed in that color at the moment ;-)

[paulsijben]

luckily I had some filament in this color at hand

[probonopd]

Working on a 3d printable case (here: for the Raspberry Pi Zero) that can be assembled without any tools.

We'd need a whole range of them to accomodoate for the various RPi and DAC models.

There is something about snap-fit 3d printed cases that I really like. Maybe it's their hackability which makes everything accessible at any time without any tools.

Turn on the sound to hear those satisfying clicks 💯

3dprintedcase.mp4

[sail2themoon]

Is there a release of this somewhere? I'd like to make a SSD1306-version

[probonopd]

I never released that one as it proved to be so tight inside that I accidentally shorted some pins on my RPi and I wanted to protect others from that disaster. Maybe I (or someone else) will design a new one some day - this one might give you some inspiration ;.)

[paulsijben]

Working on a 3d printable case (here: for the Raspberry Pi Zero) that can be assembled without any tools.

We'd need a whole range of them to accomodoate for the various RPi and DAC models.

There is something about snap-fit 3d printed cases that I really like. Maybe it's their hackability which makes everything accessible at any time without any tools.

Turn on the sound to hear those satisfying clicks 💯

3dprintedcase.mp4

nice!
I was still in doubt whether to use the zero 2 or the pi 3 leveraging the latter's USB ports

[probonopd]

The connectors on the Zero suck. A Pi 3 Model A might be the sweet spot, unless we start using Networking one day.

[rcarmo]

I'm actually using one and designing a case for it, but I want to inset the encoder so that I can have a disk-like knob that doesn't protrude from the case.

[probonopd]

Next time around I would also insert the screen at an angle, not like in my video.

[rcarmo]

Well, you can tune the contrast on the LCD a bit, and that usually changes the viewing angle... I think a 10KOhm pot is what's typical.

[paulsijben]

The connectors on the Zero suck. A Pi 3 Model A might be the sweet spot, unless we start using Networking one day.

true but I have never seen a 3A in the flesh so to speak. I do have a 3b laying around ;-)

[probonopd]

After a weekend of modeling, lots of trial and error improving my snap-fit design rules for 3D printing: It's alive! (Not the final colors though.)

Everything fits barely in, including a DAC. No screws, no tools for assembly. (Besides a soldering iron.)

[JoaquinSainz]

Wooww nice!!

[craigyjp]

Nicely done

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Only a temp case. Just need to make a new side panel to fit the screen/encoder.

[probonopd]

Welcome @eLuSiVeMiTe.
Something didn't work with your upload, please upload again...

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Should be there now

[probonopd]

Nice. You could make a 3D printed front panel simulating the 8 modules of a TX816 under your display...

[now-its-dark]

Hey there, I've been sketching out a few case directions, trying to remain loyal to the design choices from Yamaha products of the era. First one is in-progress, inspired by my personal favorite & most starkly 80's — the TQ5.

Thinking about doing one inspired by the QX3 sequencer next. It would be awesome if there were some way to use mechanical keyboard keys along with a knob for that one.

Once anything is in a printable state, I'll make the files available to freely download.

[JoaquinSainz]

Wow this is great, which model of raspberry pi are you planning to use for this case?

[probonopd]

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W without headers would fit nicely :)

I happen to have one coming in tomorrow.

[now-its-dark]

Wow this is great, which model of raspberry pi are you planning to use for this case?

I'm designing it around a pi3b initially, but it's a "floating" style topcase, so different bottom cases (not visible in the render) could be produced fairly easily, to accommodate various models / DAC configurations. Planning to get the internal dimensions dialed-in to be as versatile as possible. 😁

[romix123]

Had missed this thread.
Hi all, I have modified a case design for a Monome Norns Shield to hold the miniDexed hardware. It is V1, as it requires glue to hold encoder and DAC, but for those eager to put their kit in a box., here you go.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5371115

[probonopd]

Hello @romix123, thanks for sharing.

[paulsijben]

I built it over the weekend.
Couple of tips for improvement;

1. The hole for the LCD was too small for my display. Perhaps it would help if the spacers for the display we higher so the display can live completely inside the case
2. and the dupont cables I used for the connection to the PI were rather stiff so the case did not want to stay closed afterwards. So i just keep it closed with tape for now

[romix123]

It will accommodate all Pi’s, I think. 2 and 3 in any case. Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPad

…

Op 28 apr. 2022 om 19:33 heeft JoaquinSainz ***@***.***> het volgende geschreven:  Wow this is great, which model of raspberry pi are you planning to use for this case? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

[rcarmo]

So here's my draft OpenSCAD design, based on a Pi 3A+:

I'm trying to work out things so that the encoder knob does not protrude (think that's good for now, need to reason out the actual knob after I finish the top case) and am waiting for a DAC to arrive so I can shimmy it under the display..

[rcarmo]

First test print - all ports are mostly correct, the DAC has a snap fit and other than some first layer printing issues (which is why the front looks messy), the case snaps together and allows for SD card access just fine:

[probonopd]

Wow, very nice. To do this in OpenSCAD must be a lot of work!

[rcarmo]

It's kind of fun, really. I've been meaning to do new enclosures in Blender but I like the precision of OpenSCAD.

[zolkin]

@rcarmo do you mind sharing STLs?

[gstrug]

I built this one based on a Pi 4 I had lying around. Put the case on thingyverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5387567. I am not a 3d designer so case may need some tweaking but good enough for my purposes


.

[craigyjp]

It has a TX7 look about it.

[pik33]

I "remixed" this one to fit HifiBerry Light. I had to add holes for HifiBerry outputs, but I didn't manage to mount all these parts. HifiBerry collided with the LCD.

So I made a bigger version of this case and this is the result:

[crazyhendrix]

Not a 3D printed case, but I hacked together some plastic boxes I had into a case. Yeah, it looks bad and diy, but it works and I love the look. :D

[probonopd]

But the best part is when everything just snaps together nicely, no screws used.

Which means that it can be assembled in seconds with no tools (switch on the sound to hear those satisfying clicks when it all snaps together):

buildup.mp4

And is tinker-friedly because it is easy and fast to take apart (switch on the sound to hear those satisfying noises):

teardown.mp4

The case is designed for:

• Raspberry Pi 2, 3, or 4 Model B (they have different places for the connectors but it is designed so that all of them fit). Actually Model B is overkill for MiniDexed but it is all I had at hand and maybe someone wants to connect more than one USB MIDI controller and/or will do something with the Ethernet port some day
• GY PCM5102 DAC module
• Rotary encoder with nut
• Display module with i2c "backpack"

Please find the file below. I am not sure whether the dimensions of all those rotary encoders and 16x2 display modules are similar enough, so feedback is welcome!

RPi_2_3_4.zip

[JoaquinSainz]

Wow that's really cool!! The idea that is assembled quickly is very nice. Seeing the LCD that you are using and the encoder, it seems that they have the same measurements as mine. I am really interested in those files.

[rcarmo]

The encoder breakout (HW-040) and LCD should be the same dimensions - they're pretty much standard parts.

I like the angle, have been thinking about incorporating something like that into my design so that I can use the extra height in the back to fit in a TRS MIDI jack...

[JoaquinSainz]

Hey how you doing @probonopd, Currently I do not have any knowledge on how to make 3d designs, I am about to take online courses to learn and contribute to this project... Do you think you could share the files with me so that I have a base and make some models starting from that? I'm thinking of adding some tr 6.35mm audio outputs.
Thanks

[dhstsw]

That's great, i've been waiting for this.
Could you also post the STEP files for it? I have to accomodate inside also a potentiometer and a Raspberry Pico in it :)
THX

[romix123]

@JoaquinSainz, tip, explore Tinkercad (free online). Relatively easy app to create 3d designs using addition and subtraction with basic shapes.

[probonopd]

Highly recommend watching some videos about how to make snap fit cases. Can be done in TinkerCad, but other applications are way more powerful.

[JoaquinSainz]

Thanks @probonopd what other app do you recommend?

[probonopd]

I recommend you to watch the linked videos, understand the concepts and then choose any tool that makes sense to you. Many examples are based on Fusion 360 but that's the one I do NOT recommend because it has complicated licensing, phones home, and is not available for Linux. Check out the alternatives, including Onshape.

[chemati8]

Could you upload the files to print in 3d?. Thanks

[JoaquinSainz]

It would be really nice if they share the designs that everybody has made. Please share files🙏🙏🙏

[romix123]

See
https://www.tinkercad.com/things/1lFmZdBiwyV-minidexed
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5371115

[dhstsw]

Hi all,
This is my take on a printable case for Minidexed.

This is for Rpi3 / Rpi2 but i guess with minor mods may fit an Rpi4 too (USB and ETH port fittings).

I needed one case for the project, but with the ability to fit in also a Raspberry Pico (for midi-host compatibility with DAWs), a stereo RCA out (i had one around, why not to use it?) and a potentiometer for the display (i don't have a i2s display, so this is for a W 202 potentiometer).

The W202, PCM5102 DAC and Raspberry Pico are snapping in place without the need of screws (you can use up to 4 M2 screws on the Pico if you want, holes are there, but really not needed).

Model has been printed and adjusted for tolerances and is pretty spot on on my printer.
No need to compensate for xy expansion (i already ajusted tolerances on the models).

BTW: you can connect the VSYS (pin 39) and GND (pin 38) to the 5V and GND on the Rpi, so you'll just need one cable (connected to the Pico) to have both midi and energy for the whole system.

Also, it's the first time i ever use a parametric CAD in my life, so be kind :)

Hope it will be of use for someone beside me :)

Minidexed_DHS.zip

[zsoltmar]

Nice one! Can you please share the Pico project for the midi host?

[rcarmo]

I like the angled display - I’ve been thinking of redesigning mine to have something similar (and make room for a TRS MIDI breakout board)

…

On 17 May 2022, at 10:32, gstrug ***@***.***> wrote:  I built this one based on a Pi 4 I had lying around. Put the case on thingyverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5387567. I am not a 3d designer so case may need some tweaking but good enough for my purposes . — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you commented.

[ImaNottellinya]

Nicely integrated with my modular rig, using a 3d printed 19 inch rack blanking plate.

[paulsijben]

nice!

[craigyjp]

A bit like my 19" rack

[zsoltmar]

Are you controlling it with CV??

[ImaNottellinya]

Hi Zsoltmar, no - midi over usb. Works well with no latency issues.

[zsoltmar]

Here's mine if anyone wants to build one: https://www.printables.com/model/359937-minidexed-case-w-rpi-3-batteries-switches-screen/files