Modular case for Raspberry Pi 5 + miscellaneous HATs

[furijosi]

Here is a picture of which distance I need to know. Basically because there are 7mm Standorff included in the Pimorini , I only need the thinkness of the PCB of the NVMe Base.

[Nas]

The PCB thickness is 2 mm (they have a 3D STEP model at their web site):

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/nvme-...9587211347

[furijosi]

Perfect ,thanks! I will do some slight modifications of the design and then upload the files on printables within the next weeks. Thanks again for that nice case design

[obscenic]

Hi Nas, thanks so much for CC'ing this. I printed one today. I just wanted to report that I think there's an error in the holding bracket on Printables STL file, It's missing the screw rings in the corners where your fasteners would go through to make the complete sandwich. Instead, it has recesses (same as the flat surface holder); so when assembled there's nothing holding the holding bracket to the base piece.

[Nas]

It’s not a bug, it’s a feature!

I remember consciously removing the screw rings at the corners to prevent the nuts from scratching the wooden base when not attached to the retainer.

The holding bracket is secured to the base by the four screws located closer to the center.

But if you prefer using the corner long screws for the hole stack I can prepare a modified version.

[obscenic]

It’s not a bug, it’s a feature!

I remember consciously removing the screw rings at the corners to prevent the nuts from scratching the wooden base when not attached to the retainer.

The holding bracket is secured to the base by the four screws located closer to the center.

But if you prefer using the corner long screws for the hole stack I can prepare a modified version.

I think I'm starting to see it now; sorry! Thanks for the explanation. I see how those extra screw holes line up with the mounting holes in the PCB and the recesses on the underside of the base would fit a nut or a screw head. I don't have the MacArthur hat in hand yet, but it looks like it will arrive with some standoffs and possibly some screws which would work if the standoffs were used upside down and screws came in from the bottom. Thanks so much for your work on this.

[obscenic]

Revisiting this now that I have the HAT and standoffs in hand. The standoffs aren't long enough to pass through the pi, the base, AND the holding bracket. And as discovered previously the holding bracket doesn't sandwich with the corner screws. And I can't mount the pi directly to the holding bracket because it's not recessed (like the base is) to accommodate the components on the bottom of the pi PCB. I can't quite figure out how to get the pi+base+holding bracket into one assembly, short of ordering more hardware (custom standoffs with a very long post?) or some other screw kludge. At my best measurements, the standoffs with the MacArthur HAT have 6mm of threaded stud, but this case needs standoffs with about 11mm of threaded stud. Am I missing something obvious? Or perhaps are the standoffs shipping now not what was shipping when this case was designed? Thanks in advance!

Edit: Also just discovered that the phoenix connectors for nmea0183 and AIS switch have either been redesigned/repositioned since this case was designed, as the Phoenix terminal blocks can't be inserted without removing material from both the pi layer and the MacArthur layer, unfortunately. I'll revise and upload next time I'm on my CAD machine. HAT is rev 1.2

[Nas]

Hi Obscenic.

I'm traveling and won't be back home until tomorrow, but as soon as I can I'll modify the design to try to solve your problem.

Best regards.

[obscenic]

So to point one; the standoff situation:
My mistake again. I missed the part of the description where custom length screws were required to mount the lowest pcb to the case. I'll find these screws, and insert from the bottom; using the standoffs upside down etc.

For the phoenix connector issue, I'm going to wait until it's properly mounted to take calipers to it and make the alterations. I think it's probably just that all of the layers are about 2-3mm too long in the x-axis, at the non-usb end of the Pi.

[Nas]

Hi Obscenic, you are absolutely right about the position of the Phoenix connectors, they are (by my measurement) 2.5 mm "retracted" from the outer wall.

The problem is that I need to redesign the hole stack of parts to accomodate this change. I hope to publish the redesigned parts as soon as I can.