PRINTARACK
I’ve always wanted a proper rack for my homelab, but until now, it had been quietly tucked away on one of the shelves in an IKEA Kallax. So, I decided to design and 3D print my own rack from scratch.
First off, big shoutout to @mrp-yt and @bwees for inspiring the frame design!
The Build
My main goal was simple: 3D print everything and keep the setup clean with just one power cable and one Ethernet cable connecting the rack to the network. A secondary goal: learning OnShape after switching from Fusion 360 and, of course, having fun! 😃
What’s Inside?
- TP-Link TL-SG108E switch
- SBC's:
- Raspberry Pi 4B
- Orange Pi 3 LTS
- (Future upgrade: Raspberry Pi 5)
- Mini PCs & Laptop:
- 2 × HP 800 G2 Tiny
- Dell Latitude E7470
- Power:
- Basic extension cord (more on that later)
The rack is connected to the Internet and the first keystone in patch panel is reserved for a ethernet cable from my rounter. In the future, I plan to add a keystone panel at the back for a cleaner connection. I’m also considering placing a router on top of the rack on the shelf.
Challenges & Future Plans
For now, the files aren’t public, but I plan to release them soon. The design has some caveats, and documenting all of it is a pain. 😆
Current Issues:
- Power bricks – The adapters for the HP Tiny PCs and laptop are a pain. I can’t find short cables that fit, and an ideal solution would be to get rid of them completely somehow. 😅
- Cable management – The extension cord takes up too much space behind the rack and looks messy. Most rack-mounted PDUs have only 4 outlets, but I need at least 5.
If anyone has a good solution for compact power bricks or a better PDU, I’d love to hear it!
PRINTARACK
I’ve always wanted a proper rack for my homelab, but until now, it had been quietly tucked away on one of the shelves in an IKEA Kallax. So, I decided to design and 3D print my own rack from scratch.
First off, big shoutout to @mrp-yt and @bwees for inspiring the frame design!
The Build
My main goal was simple: 3D print everything and keep the setup clean with just one power cable and one Ethernet cable connecting the rack to the network. A secondary goal: learning OnShape after switching from Fusion 360 and, of course, having fun! 😃
What’s Inside?
The rack is connected to the Internet and the first keystone in patch panel is reserved for a ethernet cable from my rounter. In the future, I plan to add a keystone panel at the back for a cleaner connection. I’m also considering placing a router on top of the rack on the shelf.
Challenges & Future Plans
For now, the files aren’t public, but I plan to release them soon. The design has some caveats, and documenting all of it is a pain. 😆
Current Issues:
If anyone has a good solution for compact power bricks or a better PDU, I’d love to hear it!