Homelab Mini-Rack 3D Printed
#homelab #minirack #3dprinter #network
Introduction:
This is a remix of one of the many 10" mini rack projects available. Actually this is my version 2 🚀️ , once the V1 was not robust enough to have handles, and I wasn't happy with that version. This is the 3rd or 4th generation, as it is a remix of a remis of another remix ...
My target was to create a rack to organize all my stuf, using real network rack nuts and rack studs. That is the reason to use square holes.
I printed all gray components used on the frame with PETG, and almost all the panels and the handle using black PLA. For the side panels, I decided to use acrylic sheets, leftover from my 3d printer enclosure.
To print all these parts, i used my tiny Bambu A1 mini. Using some imagination and super glue, I was able print everything. Because most of pieces are larger than my 3D printer heatbed, i had 2 options 2:
-
easy: try to print in diagonal (rails, for example)
-
not so easy: use the Bambu Studio feature “CUT”, with option “Dovetail”. With this option you can split your piece in 2 parts, print them, and then use superglue to assembly them.
Rack Construction:
Some differences from the original design i had to create:
-
larger : this rack is 10inches considering the internal part, not the external of the rack. I had to extend the original design to accommodate my Aruba 8p Switch.
-
new holes : as I said, I was planning to use real rack mount cage nuts and/or rackstuds (actually I'm using both), and I changed the original circular holes to square holes. But only the internal ones where the devices will be attached.
-
new handle: to be easier to print using my A1 mini, without cuts.
-
new front panels: 1 for 10p x RJ45 and a 2nd one to install 2 x Intel NUCs using only 1 RU
With the new STL files, I started printing the rails - 8 in total.
Then I printed the foot (2) and the top (also 2).
Next I printed 6 side panels.
This was enough to assembly the 2 sides of my rack: left and right. Check the picture with both sides before installing all devices.
Next I printed the 2 handles and mounted them.
Finally, I moved the front and back panels from my old rack to the new rack: ethernet cables, blank panel, Intel NUCs, etc.
And last but not least, I cut 4 pieces of acrylic (2 x RU each) and install them as side panels.
And for the cherry on the top, LED Strips ... why not, heh ?! 😄
Part List
What I have installed in this rack, so far, bottom to top:
patch panel with 10 ports
Aruba switch 8p
4 rack units where I have: Opengear, Raspberry Pi Server, Synalogy NAS
panel with 2 Intel NUC Servers
blanck panel (it's gonna have a environment monitor on this panel, soon)
patch panel with 10 ports
Behind the rack (not shown in the pictures), attached to the rail, there is a power monitor. This is a simple Wifi power monitor that is connected to the UPS where all devices are connected to. This power monitor is connected to my HomeAssistant where I can have data and graph about my Homelab power consumption. ❤️
And, if you want to have access to the 3D files (STL), here are the links:
Printables here
Makerworld here
Rack Inside:
what is running inside:
a proxmox cluster with 3 nodes
raspberry server with docker containers: PiHole, IOT Stack, Grafana, Netdata, etc
8p Giga switch
console terminal (opengear)
Synology NAS
Pfsense virtual with VPN to my Oracle OCI instance
etc
To-do ### Improvements:
Because it's a live project, it's always open to new add-ons. For example:
-
router is still not here: it's physically in another room
-
top of the rack: still missing something to close it (lid).
-
FAN: not sure if a fan to push hot air from inside the rack to the top, or to the back of the rack
-
temperature/humidity display
Homelab Mini-Rack 3D Printed
#homelab #minirack #3dprinter #network
Introduction:
This is a remix of one of the many 10" mini rack projects available. Actually this is my version 2 🚀️ , once the V1 was not robust enough to have handles, and I wasn't happy with that version. This is the 3rd or 4th generation, as it is a remix of a remis of another remix ...
My target was to create a rack to organize all my stuf, using real network rack nuts and rack studs. That is the reason to use square holes.
I printed all gray components used on the frame with PETG, and almost all the panels and the handle using black PLA. For the side panels, I decided to use acrylic sheets, leftover from my 3d printer enclosure.
To print all these parts, i used my tiny Bambu A1 mini. Using some imagination and super glue, I was able print everything. Because most of pieces are larger than my 3D printer heatbed, i had 2 options 2:
easy: try to print in diagonal (rails, for example)
not so easy: use the Bambu Studio feature “CUT”, with option “Dovetail”. With this option you can split your piece in 2 parts, print them, and then use superglue to assembly them.
Rack Construction:
Some differences from the original design i had to create:
larger : this rack is 10inches considering the internal part, not the external of the rack. I had to extend the original design to accommodate my Aruba 8p Switch.
new holes : as I said, I was planning to use real rack mount cage nuts and/or rackstuds (actually I'm using both), and I changed the original circular holes to square holes. But only the internal ones where the devices will be attached.
new handle: to be easier to print using my A1 mini, without cuts.
new front panels: 1 for 10p x RJ45 and a 2nd one to install 2 x Intel NUCs using only 1 RU
With the new STL files, I started printing the rails - 8 in total.
Then I printed the foot (2) and the top (also 2).
Next I printed 6 side panels.
This was enough to assembly the 2 sides of my rack: left and right. Check the picture with both sides before installing all devices.
Next I printed the 2 handles and mounted them.
Finally, I moved the front and back panels from my old rack to the new rack: ethernet cables, blank panel, Intel NUCs, etc.
And last but not least, I cut 4 pieces of acrylic (2 x RU each) and install them as side panels.
And for the cherry on the top, LED Strips ... why not, heh ?! 😄
Part List
What I have installed in this rack, so far, bottom to top:
patch panel with 10 ports
Aruba switch 8p
4 rack units where I have: Opengear, Raspberry Pi Server, Synalogy NAS
panel with 2 Intel NUC Servers
blanck panel (it's gonna have a environment monitor on this panel, soon)
patch panel with 10 ports
Behind the rack (not shown in the pictures), attached to the rail, there is a power monitor. This is a simple Wifi power monitor that is connected to the UPS where all devices are connected to. This power monitor is connected to my HomeAssistant where I can have data and graph about my Homelab power consumption. ❤️
And, if you want to have access to the 3D files (STL), here are the links:
Printables here
Makerworld here
Rack Inside:
what is running inside:
a proxmox cluster with 3 nodes
raspberry server with docker containers: PiHole, IOT Stack, Grafana, Netdata, etc
8p Giga switch
console terminal (opengear)
Synology NAS
Pfsense virtual with VPN to my Oracle OCI instance
etc
To-do ### Improvements:
Because it's a live project, it's always open to new add-ons. For example:
router is still not here: it's physically in another room
top of the rack: still missing something to close it (lid).
FAN: not sure if a fan to push hot air from inside the rack to the top, or to the back of the rack
temperature/humidity display