3D Printed Homelab Cases & Mini Racks Research
Research conducted: 2026-01-20
RPi 5 Cases
Stamos Case
| Feature |
Details |
| Type |
Minimalist enclosure |
| Cooling |
Passive (vented) |
| NVMe |
No (but remixes exist for HatDrive) |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Platform |
Printables, Thingiverse, Cults3D |
Fractal Baby North
| Feature |
Details |
| Type |
Miniature PC aesthetic (Fractal North style) |
| Cooling |
Passive with wood-style front panel |
| Supports |
RPi 3, 4, 5 + BIGTREETECH Pi 2 |
| Official Files |
Fractal Design |
| Community Remix |
Printables (by Nagrom) |
Active Cooler + NVMe Case
| Feature |
Details |
| Type |
Functional enclosure |
| Cooling |
Active (official cooler compatible) |
| NVMe |
Yes (nvme-base version) |
| VESA |
75 & 100mm mounting |
| Temps |
Max 74C under load at 2.8GHz |
| Link |
Printables |
Micro Options (Mobile Kit)
Beryl AX Case Options
| Option |
Details |
| 3D Printed |
Thingiverse - Vase mode, 21g, transparent PETG |
| GL.iNet Gadget Organizer |
Amazon - EVA case, fits router + cables |
| CaseSack |
Amazon - PEVA material, water resistant |
Micro Rack for Mobile
Best option: JetDev22's Modular Mini Rack
- ~73g PETG per level, 2.5h print time
- Stackable without glue
- Supports RPi Zero to Mini ITX
- Perfect for: Beryl AX + RPi 5 + MacBook dock
- Link: Printables
Small Options (2-3U Equivalent)
Microlab 2
| Feature |
Details |
| Footprint |
160x160mm base (smaller than 10") |
| Height |
4U or 6U options |
| Supports |
RPi 4/5, TP-Link switches, N100 mini PCs, Mini-ITX |
| Cost |
~2 PLA rolls + M3 screws |
| Best for |
Compact mobile kit |
| Links |
GitHub, MakerWorld |
Supported devices
- Raspberry Pi 4/5 (single & dual trays)
- TP-Link/Tenda 8-port switches
- ASRock DeskMini X300/X600
- GMKTec G3 N100 mini PC
TinyRack
| Feature |
Details |
| Design |
Wire shelving inspired, maximum airflow |
| Assembly |
No hardware required (snap-fit) |
| Best for |
Mini PC clusters (heat management) |
| Links |
Blog Post, Printables |
RackStack
| Feature |
Details |
| Design |
OpenSCAD parametric |
| Sizes |
Mini (~200mm3), Micro (~180mm3), Nano (~100mm3) |
| Mounting |
Sliding hex nut (no cage nuts) |
| Best for |
Custom dimensions |
| Link |
GitHub |
Medium Options (10" Mini Rack, 2U-4U)
Lab Rax (by Michael Klements / The DIY Life)
| Feature |
Details |
| Standard |
10" rack compatible |
| Height |
1U to 5U (stackable to 10U) |
| Cost |
~$21 total (580g filament + hardware) |
| Print bed |
250mm minimum |
| Versions |
Standard (brass inserts) or Bolted (M6 only) |
| Extras |
NAS shelves, SBC mounts available |
| Links |
Blog, MakerWorld |
Best for: Fixed homelab, professional look, commercial compatibility
HomeRacker
| Feature |
Details |
| Design |
Fully parametric (Fusion 360) |
| Standards |
10" and 19" (in development) |
| Assembly |
Tool-free (supports + connectors + lock pins) |
| Extras |
Gridfinity shelves, drawers, faceplates |
| License |
Open source (commercial OK with attribution) |
| Links |
Website, GitHub, MakerWorld |
Mod10
| Feature |
Details |
| Standard |
10" rack |
| Supports |
No supports needed for printing |
| Best for |
Ubiquiti gear, RPi clusters |
| Link |
Printables |
Comparison Matrix
| Project |
Size |
Complexity |
Cost |
Best For |
| JetDev22 |
Micro |
Low |
~$5 |
Mobile kit |
| Microlab 2 |
Small |
Medium |
~$15 |
Compact portable |
| RackStack |
Variable |
Medium |
~$10 |
Custom sizes |
| TinyRack |
Small |
Low |
~$10 |
Heat-sensitive gear |
| Lab Rax |
10" |
Medium |
~$21 |
Fixed homelab |
| HomeRacker |
10"/19" |
High |
~$30 |
Expandable systems |
Recommendations
Mobile Kit (Backpack)
Micro option - Just cases
- Beryl AX: 3D printed vase case or EVA organizer
- RPi 5: Active Cooler + NVMe case
- Samsung A13: Existing phone case
Small option - Microlab 2
- Holds Beryl AX + RPi 5 + switch
- 160x160mm footprint
- Fits in backpack
Fixed Homelab (2U-4U)
Recommended: Lab Rax 3-4U
- Standard 10" compatibility
- $21 total cost
- Professional appearance
- Holds: Mini PC + NAS + Switch + RPi cluster
Alternative: HomeRacker
- Maximum modularity
- Future expansion to 19"
- Parametric customization
Resources
Jeff Geerling's Project MINI RACK
Community showcase of 200+ mini rack builds with 3D printed, commercial, and hybrid solutions.
Sources