Insect proof ventilated raspberry pi and pi camera case with external focus control.

This case will be in an outside environment that needs to be protected from any insect ingress, I have lost electronic equipment like that before.

I developed this case with this printing technique after discovering Posix's build for an anti-slip mat and experimented with building the whole box in this manner thus completely enclosing the box but maintaining ventilation. There is space for extra 8 fans or 1 in 8 different positions (hardware required).

This is achieved by only printing the infill and not the top, bottom or walls/perimeters.

For the following

Case_base

Camera_back

Camera_housing

Camera_housing_auto_focus

End_Pi_4

End_Pi 5_3b+

Top

Print with all your usual settings except: 

Layer height 0.25-28mm

Walls 0

Top layers 0

Bottom layers 0

Infill 47%

Infill pattern gyroid 

Infill overlap 90 degrees

For the following

Cam_mount_template

Camera_clip

Pi_template

Picam_focus_ring V1

Picam_focus_ring V2

Print with your usual setup for “Fine quality”

Please don't use a raft preferably not a brim either as you will break the build trying to remove it. This technique does adhere well to the plate but the downside is that I have found you need to let the build plate cool to around 40 degrees C before removing the piece.

This is a challenging build, I have included a test wall and a test top piece, please start here by printing them out in the orientation that they are in the file, this is important as this technique does not print the same dimensions as they are in CAD because of this I have adjusted each piece so that when they are printed out they do fit together See here. The reason to keep the orientation is because the adjustments that I have made are not the same in each axis.

Once you have printed out the test pieces and they fit together snugly, you are safe to continue with the build but bear in mind you must not alter the orientation of the model within the file.

All printers are different, all filaments are different so it is important to do the test first. 

If you would like to experiment more, try turning the test pieces 90 degrees or even printing them out in the normal fashion and it will give you an idea of what happens in different orientations.

And of course you will want to add a benchy to your collection, that will give you a much better understanding of how this technique works, try printing two 90 degrees to each other and check the dimensions.

 

For assembly I use heat inserts but ENSAT’s or bolts & nuts are fine, drill out as required. I have included 2 templates to facilitate ease of lining up the holes, discard after use.

Attach the ribbon cable to the Picam, put the Picam into the clip threading the ribbon through the slot, Put the relevant adjuster in the camera housing and line up clip & camera with the adjuster, fix together. Next screw that to the case base and then mount the Rpi, Attach camera & PoE hat. Place & wire the fans (the lid holds them in place), Fit the end, Clip over the camera back and slide the top into place and press home.