Custom Case, Need 3D Models

[botbry]

I am a product engineer and I would really like to make a custom case. Problem is that I have yet to come across any solid models of the RPI. And I'm sure this is for good reason, with RPI not wanting these out in the wild per-say.

If you guys would be able to send them my way privately as an .iges or .stl file I will then be able to open it in solidworks and go from there. This would be the best way for me to make my case so that I do not need to re-create the RPI in solidworks when I get mine. Having access to the actual model will make the case the most accurate as well.

If I need to sign an NDA in order for this to happen, I will gladly sign one.

Please get back to me on this, as I would like to get started on this right away!

Thanks,

Bryant

[grumpyoldgit]

You just need to look at one of the many many threads on case designs for the details.

[botbry]

Thanks for the response! I'm having trouble sourcing any threads relating to case designs, have any links??

[tzj]

http://sketchup.google.com/3dw.....revstart=0

the ya go

[botbry]

tzj said:


http://sketchup.google.com/3dw.....revstart=0

the ya go


thanks, but the problem with that, is that I cannot open a sketchup file in solidworks.

[tzj]

oh... well I"m not sure if someone has done pi modelling on solid works and posted it.

ya could try and use blender as a middle-ware, but could screw up with measurements :/

[botbry]

tzj said:


oh... well I"m not sure if someone has done pi modelling on solid works and posted it.

ya could try and use blender as a middle-ware, but could screw up with measurements :/


yea, I really would like to get an official model of the RPI, even if it didnt have all the small details, just so I could have a actual model of the board with the proper connectors on it.

[stefan72]

Did Somebody knew wehere I can get the File from this nice Lego-Case?????

I think I can add some nice ideas I have...

[grumpyoldgit]

botbry said:


tzj said:


oh... well I"m not sure if someone has done pi modelling on solid works and posted it.

ya could try and use blender as a middle-ware, but could screw up with measurements :/


yea, I really would like to get an official model of the RPI, even if it didnt have all the small details, just so I could have a actual model of the board with the proper connectors on it.


There is no such beast.

[loupium]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/for.....8;search=1

[botbry]

loupium said:


http://www.raspberrypi.org/for.....8;search=1


Hey, thanks for that. At least that will give a bit of headstart for if I hear anything back official from RPI. Also great if I dont, as it easy enough to simply change the sketch later on.

I will work it out and see what I come up with. Will post pics when im done, maybe models too.

[fireraisr]

the foundation has given out the official dimensions of the board. if you need a 3d mock-up, as a product engineer you should be more than capable of rolling your own fairly easily. Unless you were expecting a fully rendered model that you could showcase your design with.

[botbry]

fireraisr said:


the foundation has given out the official dimensions of the board. if you need a 3d mock-up, as a product engineer you should be more than capable of rolling your own fairly easily. Unless you were expecting a fully rendered model that you could showcase your design with.


Yes, while they have released the overall size dimensions of the board. that doesnt help with the location of all the components on the board. It would help to know where they were located so I know that I have enough clearance around them and the case. Also I need to be able to support the device inside that case, and I do want any support being placed on a component, just directly to the board. And since the board is heavily populated, I cant just place support wherever I want, the location of all the components will dictate where the support goes. Also I need to be able to capture the device inside, so that it foes not float around inside. This has the same issue as the support.

So yes, while I am more than able to make my own stand in very quickly, It wont help me all that much with the exception of maybe the outside profile, And with a bit of luck, I could probably work with that. But my Overall goal is to release my models to the community, and I do not want them done wrong.

And yes, It would be epic to have an Official Fully Populated Board model for rendering purposes.

[khulat]

I don't think they have remotely enough time to make anything of the sort at the moment. I suppose you will have to wait until the first batch is ready and people have the their Raspberrys on hand, to make detailed schematics. It shouldn't be that long if the factory is still on track for the 20th.

[botbry]

khulat said:


I don't think they have remotely enough time to make anything of the sort at the moment. I suppose you will have to wait until the first batch is ready and people have the their Raspberrys on hand, to make detailed schematics. It shouldn't be that long if the factory is still on track for the 20th.


I can agree with that. But Im sure that they have a completed schematic with all the components on it and they could give that as a Gerber File. Then I could just dimension from that.

[RaTTuS]

and I want waffles

[abishur]

well, the mechanical dimensions they released do show all the edge components and the height of the edge components.  Now obviously I don't know your exact needs, but it seems like it should be more than possible to design a case that firmly holds the board by putting your supports on the lower connectors and having the cover sit flush on the tallest connector without needing to place anything directly on the board itself.   Alternatively you could always have it hold via clips on the edge of the PCB based on the location of the various connectors.

[rurwin]

All the information you need, so far as anyone knows it, is in Gert's mechanical details and the pictures of the beta board which I have squared up here.

I don't believe anyone knows exactly how close the beta board's dimensions are to the production models, and therefore you probably wont get an authentic reply until after Monday.

[fireraisr]

botbry said:


khulat said:


I don't think they have remotely enough time to make anything of the sort at the moment. I suppose you will have to wait until the first batch is ready and people have the their Raspberrys on hand, to make detailed schematics. It shouldn't be that long if the factory is still on track for the 20th.


I can agree with that. But Im sure that they have a completed schematic with all the components on it and they could give that as a Gerber File. Then I could just dimension from that.


lol, you went from wanting a render to wanting the full schematic. Next you'll be asking for 10 production boards to be sure your dimensions will be accurate to the thousandth.

And it shouldn't be too much to ask for them to include the binary blob that includes codecs for every supported audio and video format right?

I think we should all get a free production board because we're obviously a big deal and the foundation should recognize this. /sarcasm/

[nelson]

You don't need center pillars if you make a support around the entire edge, this is a 4 (6?) layer PCB the size of a credit card you won't have bending in the middle heck you probably couldn't bend it by hand even if you tried

[abishur]

It is a 6 layer PCB

[nicksoph]

Hi Abishur

Im drawing a case idea out at the moment and am a bit concerned about the pcb height - I had been working on the idea that it was a 4 layer pcb which was .6mm thick - which Im sure I read on this site somewhere: If it is a 6 layer pcb might you know its thickness?

thanks

n

[rurwin]

I'm fairly sure that it's 1.6mm. I think I've read that somewhere -- check Gert's mechanical thread.

1.6 is a standard size.

[botbry]

loupium said:


http://www.raspberrypi.org/for.....8;search=1


Again, thanks for suggesting this. It has given me a really good start so I can at least conceptualize my design.

The design is going great, I finally found some time yesterday to start on it, and have my initial model about 1/3 finished. It will be a two part case with a top and bottom, and should be relatively simplistic and clean. I have a few ideas of how I want to connect the 2 parts of the case together, so it should be interesting to say the least.

Once I get a little further along, I will up some images of what I got to see if you guys like it.

[HansH]

Well Gerts measurements should be accurate (I hope)

I already have 4 empty cases lying around waiting for a Pi....

Design is on : http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:16104

It makes a difference if you design a case for RepRap printing or something else.

RepRap requires that everything should be supported while printing....

For Shapeways its different, they use support material, so you can design differently.

So if you make a design, you need to keep in mind how its gonna be made.