The last build log left us with a skeleton of the NAS-pi and a bunch of things to complete before the final step. I’m pleased to say that I got some acrylic glue and I’m ready to finish up the enclosure. As usual, things were smooth, but not without pitfalls of doing things for the first time.
NAS-pi enclosure continues…
The first step was to cover up the front vents with a Raspberry Pi logo. To do this I had to cut out small pieces of acrylic glass and glue it the enclosure as studs. It was easy enough and created a very nice 3D effect. I’m very pleased with how it turned out to be.
I could improve the look a little bit by making the vents a little smaller, but unless you look at the front panel up close and from an angle, you can’t see any vents. Job’s done!
My next task on today’s agenda was actually to mount the Raspberry Pi inside the NAS-pi. An additional 4 holes have been created to support the board. I used the self-tightening nuts as they come with a small collar. This turned out to be a great anchor and a stand at the same time. As the Raspberry Pi is wedged against the back plate and both Ethernet jack and USB ports go slightly inside the back plate, I had no need to use more than 2 holes to secure the microcontroller. I had to drill into the top of the NAS-pi enclosure to accommodate for the 3.5mm audio jack. I didn’t want to hack it off.
The USB hub will be mounted using a 3M tape. There is no other convenient alternative really, and the tape will protect the insides from rattling about.
Everything is almost ready now. I will position the guts of the NAS-pi and add cables then decide which sides of the enclosure will be permanently sealed. I want to have an access via top and bottom panels. The HDD bays will be also glued into the enclosure. Once positioned, I don’t plan on moving it around as hard drives can be removed at will.
Shopping for components
| Item | Amazon UK | Amazon USA | Aliexpress.com | Banggood.com | Comments |
| 1 x USB 3.0 4 port hub | £8.99 | $9.99 | $6.64 | $11.99 | I picked the microUSB powerd one, other are available |
| 4 x USB angled cables | £6.99 pack of two | $6.99 pack of two | $1.68 | $2.99 | Plan the bends accordingly |
| 1 x 2.5 -3 A 5V power supply | £5.79 | $8.99 | $4.99 | $5.75 | Works from 2.4A but aim for 3A if possible |
| 1 x Raspberry PI 2/3 | £32.00 | $35.10 | $39.50 | $39.99 | There is no speed penalty for RPI2 |
| 3 x HDD | £5.95 | $8.99 | $8.49 | $9.49 | Needs to have a specific opening mechanism |
| USB hub with power 2.5A | £12.22 | $16.99 |
Conclusion
The box is shaping up really well. It will look awesome once is pieced together and all the components are inside.
Project Download
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