Introduction: Raspberry Media Player Casing
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About: Hungarian guy in Switzerland (after 9 years of Netherlands). Check my website for nixie clocks!
Look at this Raspberry board. Its is a good choice if you want to make your own internet and multimedia station to play HD movies, browse on the web watch Youtube trailers listen your MP3 collections for literally peanuts. All you need to do, plug all the cables to they sockets, upload the software and good to go.
So just plug in an SD card, HDMI cable, LAN cable, USB cable, audio cable, and the power cable...and all your 5 cables are sticking out from the 4 sides of the board. How lame it is!
When you order a raspberry you get a bare panel, if you need some housing, you can easily search for boxes, cases one the internet...but still you have all sides spiked with cables....and that is what I wanted to fix.
So just plug in an SD card, HDMI cable, LAN cable, USB cable, audio cable, and the power cable...and all your 5 cables are sticking out from the 4 sides of the board. How lame it is!
When you order a raspberry you get a bare panel, if you need some housing, you can easily search for boxes, cases one the internet...but still you have all sides spiked with cables....and that is what I wanted to fix.
Step 1: Extending Inputs/outputs
How to place all the sockets to the back of a Raspberry powered multimedia case?
Some people could solder, de-solder HDMI sockets, micro SD sockets...etc, and wire them again, but I could not. I just extended everything to the back with existing cables. It might look messy inside, but looks great from outside.
Designing the rear panel, it seamed obvious to me to use the side of the Raspberry PI where USB and the LAN outputs are, because they need to be hold strong and 2 outputs are on the same side. And in this case the SD card is on the front side. All the other connectors can be extended easily.
I searched first for solutions to extend the HDMI. First I though some 90 degree converters just simply turn the socket facing to the back. Ordered and tried the 90 degree adaptor I just realised that it turns completelly to the opposite way. Than I found this 20 cm long HDMI extension. After I received just twisted and fixed the cable to the board and I liked the result. The cable sit very tight so I dont think it will ever come out from the casing. For the audio and the video I just made short extension cables.
The power source is 5V and recommended 1.2 Amp. The Raspberry's power socket is now on the front on the panel, which is the worst place. I used a Micro USB pigtail cable to connect my new rear power point. Now I can use a standard 5V adaptor to power it up.
Finally all of the new extended sockets are on the rear side.
Some people could solder, de-solder HDMI sockets, micro SD sockets...etc, and wire them again, but I could not. I just extended everything to the back with existing cables. It might look messy inside, but looks great from outside.
Designing the rear panel, it seamed obvious to me to use the side of the Raspberry PI where USB and the LAN outputs are, because they need to be hold strong and 2 outputs are on the same side. And in this case the SD card is on the front side. All the other connectors can be extended easily.
I searched first for solutions to extend the HDMI. First I though some 90 degree converters just simply turn the socket facing to the back. Ordered and tried the 90 degree adaptor I just realised that it turns completelly to the opposite way. Than I found this 20 cm long HDMI extension. After I received just twisted and fixed the cable to the board and I liked the result. The cable sit very tight so I dont think it will ever come out from the casing. For the audio and the video I just made short extension cables.
The power source is 5V and recommended 1.2 Amp. The Raspberry's power socket is now on the front on the panel, which is the worst place. I used a Micro USB pigtail cable to connect my new rear power point. Now I can use a standard 5V adaptor to power it up.
Finally all of the new extended sockets are on the rear side.
Step 2: Making the Box
To assemble I use M2.5 screws. The panel is not making to much heat during operation, but staying on the safe side I cut plenty of ventilation holes to the bottom to get some fresh air in and some opening to the opposite side wall to let the warm air out.
At the end I just glued the HDMI socket to the acrylic in case.
I cut the Raspberry logo from a clear acrylic and made a 'window'. On the front there is an opening just in case I need to remove the SD card and inserted an IR receiver. I can control the player with a mobile app, but it is just nice if I can use my multipurpose Logitech remote control.
The Raspberry has the XBMC / OpenELEC 3.0.0 media player package
Now I have a great media player in a decent case on the shelf.
At the end I just glued the HDMI socket to the acrylic in case.
I cut the Raspberry logo from a clear acrylic and made a 'window'. On the front there is an opening just in case I need to remove the SD card and inserted an IR receiver. I can control the player with a mobile app, but it is just nice if I can use my multipurpose Logitech remote control.
The Raspberry has the XBMC / OpenELEC 3.0.0 media player package
Now I have a great media player in a decent case on the shelf.
Step 3: Download
Here is the drawing of the box, feel free to modify for our needs!
Just one thing before you cut, check your 6 sided nut size and adjust they place on the box!
Just one thing before you cut, check your 6 sided nut size and adjust they place on the box!
