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OND's other projects
Ond:
Last two days have been like an early Spring after a forever Winter. I have this queue of non-arcade projects I've been looking forward to getting back to. This thread is for those, and for anyone who feels like following along.
First one up will be this new media server I wanted to build. I've made a few home cooked Kodi servers in the past. You can buy cheap media boxes here and there, Fire TV Sticks, Android stuff etc. I like to design and build my own because I can add features to suit my other gear plus make something I like the look of. I got this idea to use modular 3D printed parts along with other materials. Oh yeah, my original plan was to use a Kodi server for streaming, video and music. Then I discovered Volumio and decided to build two matching units, one for video (Kodi player) and the other for music (Volumio player). It's a lot easier to switch a dial between source inputs on my AV amp than it is to fiddle around in Kodi to switch audio settings between digital and analog, but more on that later...
The heart of this is a Raspberry Pi 5. Able to run 4K video at 60fps and paired with a M.2 ssd drive instead of an SD Card. Faster and good for much read/write the NVME SSD seems a good choice.
To start with, some way to connect one of these drives is needed.
It has a fragile ribbon cable connection onto the Pi so needs to be well supported. The media servers are based on 300x300mm sheet aluminum and 3D printed parts. All components can be screwed down onto the base panel.
The Pi 5 will be mildly overclocked to crank the best (reasonable) performance out of the CPU/GPU. That will mean some heat has to be managed with cooling. At the same time I want the enclosure to be as slim as possible.
My plan is take air from underneath using a very quiet 80mm fan and then pass the airflow over the Pi and out the back of the unit.
A 3D printed sort of manifold can do this.
Fitted like this:
The 3D printed parts are made up of corner pieces and edge lengths that slot together. Ultimately these will be painted in the same colors as the plastic.
Each edge has screw fittings for the base plate.
The rear panel has cutouts for connector fittings.
Next, fitting the extra hardware for audio management.
Zebidee:
Enjoying your projects as always. Love the creative 3D printing. Pieces that go together like lego.
Lots of extra room inside - planning on adding anything?
jeremymtc:
This is very cool!
I'm pretty uninformed when it comes to modern 3d design and printing. Does the modeling software you use have a library of primitives for things like port openings or mating/mounting flanges, or must that all be designed by hand each time?
Ond:
--- Quote from: Zebidee on August 14, 2024, 04:29:48 pm ---Enjoying your projects as always. Love the creative 3D printing. Pieces that go together like lego.
Lots of extra room inside - planning on adding anything?
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the interest Zeb, there's a few other things I need to fit into the 300x300 space including power supply, digital audio extractor, dc to dc regulator and maybe one or two other bits I've forgotten for the moment. Then there's cables and wiring of course. I'll try and cover all that in pictures and words in a way that makes sense. These media servers tie back to a NAS. At the moment that's just via Wi-Fi, my longer term plan is to hard wire the network connections for better data speeds. In raw plastic and metal the look of these is just so-so IMO. The final product nicely finished should look pro. I'd rather you guys take the journey with me than just posting them all done?
--- Quote from: jeremymtc on August 14, 2024, 05:30:49 pm ---This is very cool!
I'm pretty uninformed when it comes to modern 3d design and printing. Does the modeling software you use have a library of primitives for things like port openings or mating/mounting flanges, or must that all be designed by hand each time?
--- End quote ---
Thanks jeremymtc! That's OK, I've been learning to design for 3D printing in only the last few months. I've had a lot of experience using 3D design software over the years but zero experience on the printing side. Until recently I didn't know there was any difference in 3D file formats for fabrication using printers or CNC etc, but there is. There is a lot of ready made objects you can access when you're designing. For instance, electronic parts suppliers often include 3D files for stock they sell (available for free download). You can view these in free CAD programs or SketchUp etc. For my part, in this project, everything is scratch drawn and designed. I'm forever measuring things with calipers and then doing test prints to make sure port openings etc fit. I often don't sleep too well these days. Instead of counting imaginary farm animals I work through design ideas in my head until I pass out :lol Those interlocking parts are an example of that.
This thread will document not just these first few projects but quite a few others as well. No sense in creating new posts in the Everything Else sub forum. Just join me here from time to time to see what's new. I'll happily juggle my arcade projects with these.
Other things on the horizon:
• Cooking with OND :laugh2:
• PCB design (+getting them manufactured) for fun and maybe profit.
• Building the ULTIMATE high fidelity loudspeakers, not my design BTW.
• Turntables and vinyl records (I've never owned a record player - until recently, and I've got less than half a dozen records).
For some of these projects I'm a newb learning. I'll be asking you guys for advice here and there.
jeremymtc:
--- Quote from: Ond on August 16, 2024, 04:23:47 am ---Thanks jeremymtc! That's OK, I've been learning to design for 3D printing in only the last few months. I've had a lot of experience using 3D design software over the years but zero experience on the printing side. Until recently I didn't know there was any difference in 3D file formats for fabrication using printers or CNC etc, but there is. There is a lot of ready made objects you can access when you're designing. For instance, electronic parts suppliers often include 3D files for stock they sell (available for free download). You can view these in free CAD programs or SketchUp etc. For my part, in this project, everything is scratch drawn and designed. I'm forever measuring things with calipers and then doing test prints to make sure port openings etc fit. I often don't sleep too well these days. Instead of counting imaginary farm animals I work through design ideas in my head until I pass out :lol Those interlocking parts are an example of that.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the info! It will be neat to follow along on this. I totally get you on the constant background thought process when you're immersed in designing and building stuff, but there's nothing like it when a new solution presents itself and proves out. I think that feeling is almost more rewarding than the actual completion and use of whatever it is that's being built :cheers:
--- Quote from: Ond on August 16, 2024, 04:23:47 am ---Other things on the horizon:
• Cooking with OND :laugh2:
--- End quote ---
I'm here for the Ond's buttered toast recipe and build log!
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