Under Desk Mounting Brackets - QUBE 500

Bracket designs for mounting a Cooler Master QUBE 500 PC case to the bottom of your desk.
9h 4m
1× print file
0.20 mm
0.40 mm
150.00 g
104
234
3
3905
updated October 5, 2023

Description

PDF

These are some bracket designs for holding a Master Cooler QUBE 500 PC case to the underside of a desk. This is ideal for people like me, who have an already cluttered standing desk and don't like cables reaching to the floor.

There are two versions of the brackets available, a two-part design and a four-part design. 

Two-Part Design: These are larger, 248mm wide brackets that provide 5cm clearance between the top of the PC case and the desk. Two of these brackets are needed, but they are identical and print from the same model. Look for the “v1" model. If you can fit this on your bed I recommend using this design, as it is more robust and is going to be easier to install.

Four-Part Design: These are smaller 55mm x 124.1mm wide brackets that will fit on most print beds and provide 7cm of clearance between the top of the PC case and the desk. Four of these brackets are needed, two of the “A” version and two of the “B” version. Look for the “v2” models. I'd only use this version if you can't fit the two-part design.

Both designs attach using the four #6-32 threaded holes at the top corners of the QUBE 500. The same holes used by the handlebars. So, the carry handles will need to be removed.

Print Settings

Note: I would recommend placing the surface that touches the PC against the print plate. I know that doesn't seem like the best printing orientation, but 3D printed parts do not handle stresses perpendicular to their print layers well. This orientation ensures the best layer lines for high part strength.

I printed this part fine with no supports in this orientation, here are the other settings I used…

  • “0.2mm Speed” setting on Prusa MK3
  • 0.4mm Nozzle
  • 20% Infill
  • I up'ed the perimeters to 4 for better strength
  • PLA

A Robust Shell Design

The thick-walled shell design, inspired by several iterations of structural simulations, balances a cosmetically pleasing exterior with thick walls where it matters most for stress concentrations. All while minimizing the material required to print. With the settings I listed above I was able to print one of the two-part brackets in ~9 hours.

 

And, it is in fact robust. I couldn't, in good conscience, upload a 3D print design for this purpose without knowing it was up to the task. So, empirical testing was needed. Forgive my janky setup. I did what I could, testing at more than 40 lbs per single bracket which would be 80 lbs in total. The part didn't even break a sweat, but I did learn my zipties can't take much more than that. 

Many of the consumer PC mounts available are rated in the 20-40 lbs range in total. So 80+ lbs is some healthy margin

A Word of Caution: 3D printed parts can vary significantly in strength based on a number of factors, including; filament type and quality, print temperature, perimeter and infill settings, layer adhesion, etc. If you are suspicious of the print quality of your parts, please verify them before you trust them to hold your PC.

Use Instructions

The threaded holes on the QUBE 500 case are #6-32, but you will need 0.5 in. long screws with this bracket. Additionally, the holes for mounting to the desk are sized for #10 wood screws. I'd recommend you use washers with both. You should be able to find all of this at your local hardware store, but here are some McMaster parts for reference…

https://www.mcmaster.com/93615A216/

https://www.mcmaster.com/92141A008/

https://www.mcmaster.com/91070A261/

https://www.mcmaster.com/92141A011/

The hole pattern on the underside of the desk is as follows (not to scale), note that the pattern is different between the two-part and four-part designs.

Two-Part Holes Pattern:

Four-Part Hole Pattern:

Final Note: Please find a helping set of hands when trying to mount your PC. The best order of operations is probably to attach the brackets to your PC first, then the brackets to the desk second. It's not going to be easy for one person.

Good luck, and hope this helps!

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Cooler Master QUBE 500 - PC Case Accessories
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