All-Sky Housing Box for Raspberry Pi and Raspberry Pi HQ Camera

Simple Pi HQ Camera housing for AllSky based off the model done by @AlaskanAstro_238224
12
56
0
653
updated November 18, 2023

Description

PDF

Bill of goods to build your own:

  • Print each item with the material described (everything in PETG at 15% infill with 4 walls) with the exception of gaskets (TPU at 100% infill) and the Allsky-Dome-Seat.stl (PETG at 100% infill).
  • Raspberry Pi of your choosing (recommend Pi 4 for now) with SD card, USBC power cable and suitable power supply.  If you do not use AllSky's upload feature and depend on the storage of the Pi itself, go with a big SD card!
  • You may choose to use a 5v fan to help circulate air within the enclosure and (hopefully) reduce fogging within the dome.  I used a Noctua NF-A4x20 and connected the positive end to pin 4 and the negative to pin 6.  I did not use the third wire.  I was able to modify the fan plug to just seat over the GPIO pins cleanly (see fan-pins.png). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072Q3CMRW 
  • While you can simply use a gasket seal or silicone, heat sunk brass inserts may make this more easy to work with.  I used 4 M3x8x5 for the lid, 4 M3x4x5 for the dome and 4 M2x6x3.5 for the camera. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Z1VXD9X
  • Soldering iron to heat these inserts into the 3d printed parts.  Tip: especially for the M2 inserts, I recommend having the M2 bolts inside them while heat sinking them as plastic material may melt inside the threads making them difficult to screw in once cooled.
  • M2 and M3 bolts to mate to the above brass threaded inserts
  • This new lid is meant to work with the Raspberry Pi HQ Camera Module.  You will need to remove the tripod mount for it to fit (two small screws).  This is available from many retailers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LHJR3K4
  • A 180 degree fisheye lens to fit the RPi HQ Camera Module.  I used this, but there are many options available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0897QD6C2?
  • 3.1 inch acrylic dome.  I'd recommend buying a few.  Depending on how careful you are and how much tinkering you're doing, you may want a backup since they are easily scratched. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KGFTHL3
  • Silicon sealer to help ensure a weatherproof seal for components.
  • I also printed a small desiccant holder that fit inside the enclosure underneath the Pi to help with humidity and moisture.
  • Reusable zipties if you intend to attach to a railing like I had done.

License is the same as the original author.  I really enjoyed this project and found a “just follow these instructions and buy these parts” for common hardware a bit difficult to find, so I'm hoping this is helpful to someone.  Big thank you to @AlaskanAstro_238224 for sharing his model and making it available for everyone.

Tags



Model origin

The author remixed this model.

Differences of the remix compared to the original

Took the model from @AlaskanAstro_238224 and made some alterations for my needs:

  • TPU gasket between dome and lid (still recommend following-up with silicone)
  • TPU gasket between lid and box (still recommend following-up with silicone)
  • Ring adapter to fit over the clear dome and help offer (slightly) more uniform fitment between the dome and lid
  • Created a tight fitting plug that allows a cable passthru (still recommend following-up with silicone)
  • Box has “wings” allowing it to be mounted to a railing with zipties
  • New lid with mounting holes to heat-sink threaded inserts allowing for use with Raspberry Pi HQ camera (will need to remove the tripod mount to fit)
  • Included a small adapter plate I used to mount a 40mm 5v fan to the GPIO pins and (help) obscure the power LED from the RPi.  Still recommend covering the power LED with electrical tape if you're unable to disable it.

License