Raspberry Pi 5 Case Research¶
3D printable case options for the RPi 5 Headscale server. Researched 2026-01-14.
Requirements¶
- Fits Raspberry Pi 5
- Compatible with Active Cooler (thermal management for 24/7 operation)
- 3D printable locally in Paraguay
- Cool/geek/nerdy aesthetic
- Bonus: NVMe SSD support for future expansion
Top Picks¶
1. Retro Tower Desktop (Recommended)¶
Mini PC tower aesthetic - perfect for a portable server.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | Xavior93 | | Platform | Printables | | Style | Retro mini PC | | Features | Working power button, front LED, SD card slot | | Active Cooler | Yes | | Difficulty | Medium |
Why this one¶
- Server aesthetic matches Headscale use case
- "Carry your mesh in your backpack" vibes
- Functional front panel (power, LEDs)
- Conversation starter
Link: <https://
2. Cyberpunk Tower¶
Maximum geek factor with RGB and display.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | Various | | Platform | Cults3D / Etsy | | Style | Cyberpunk / Neon | | Features | Twin fans, RGB LEDs, OLED display slot | | Active Cooler | Custom cooling | | Difficulty | Hard |
Additional parts needed¶
- 50x50x10mm DC fans (x2)
- M3 nuts and bolts
- WS2812 RGB LED rings
- OLED display (optional)
- Laser-cut acrylic panels
Why this one¶
- OLED could display Headscale stats
- RGB for status indication
- Ultimate flex at hackerspaces
Link: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/gadget/raspberry-pi-case-cyberpunk-edition
3. PiCase (π-Shaped)¶
Mathematical tribute with functional design.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | Instructables community | | Platform | Instructables | | Style | Math nerd | | Features | π-shaped, vents as π digits | | Active Cooler | Passive cooling | | Difficulty | Medium |
Why this one¶
- Unique conversation piece
- Celebrates the Pi name
- Passive cooling (silent operation)
Link: <https://
4. Stamos Case (Minimal)¶
Clean, proven, just works.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | Stamos | | Platform | Printables / Thingiverse | | Style | Minimal / Industrial | | Features | Snap-fit, no screws, color accents | | Active Cooler | Yes | | Difficulty | Easy | | Downloads | 54,000+ |
Why this one¶
- Most popular design
- No additional hardware needed
- Quick print, reliable fit
- Dual-color filament for accent vents
Links¶
- https://www.printables.com/model/742926-raspberry-pi-5-case
- https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6633603
5. Active Cooler + NVMe Case¶
Server-ready with SSD support.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | mrlinux2u | | Platform | Printables | | Style | Functional server | | Features | Official Active Cooler + NVMe HAT | | Active Cooler | Yes | | Difficulty | Medium |
Why this one¶
- Future-proof (NVMe expansion)
- Official cooler support
- Proper server form factor
Link: <https://
6. Retro Snap-Fit¶
Art Deco meets GPU reference design.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | the printed cow | | Platform | Printables | | Style | Retro / Art Deco / GPU | | Features | Snap-fit, no supports needed | | Active Cooler | Yes | | Difficulty | Easy |
Why this one¶
- Looks like a mini graphics card
- No support material needed
- Clean retro aesthetic
Link: <https://
7. Water-Cooled Case¶
Overkill flex for maximum geek cred.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | Michael Klements | | Platform | XDA / Custom | | Style | Enthusiast | | Features | Custom water cooling loop | | Active Cooler | Water block | | Difficulty | Expert |
Additional parts needed¶
- Water cooling block
- Pump
- Reservoir
- Tubing
- Fittings
Why this one¶
- Ultimate conversation piece
- Completely unnecessary (that's the point)
- Peak hobbyist energy
Link: <https://
Comparison Matrix¶
| Case | Geek Factor | Difficulty | Cost | Active Cooler | NVMe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retro Tower | 9/10 | Medium | Low | Yes | No | | Cyberpunk | 10/10 | Hard | Medium | Custom | No | | PiCase (π) | 8/10 | Medium | Low | Passive | No | | Stamos | 6/10 | Easy | Low | Yes | No | | Active+NVMe | 7/10 | Medium | Low | Yes | Yes | | Retro Snap | 7/10 | Easy | Low | Yes | No | | Water-Cooled | 11/10 | Expert | High | Water | No |
STL Repositories¶
| Platform | URL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Printables | https://www.printables.com | Best quality, Prusa community | | MakerWorld | https://makerworld.com | Bambu Lab, multicolor | | Thingiverse | https://www.thingiverse.com | Classic, largest library | | Cults3D | https://cults3d.com | Premium designs | | Thangs | https://thangs.com | Growing community |
Printing Tips¶
Filament Choice¶
| Material | Use Case |
|---|---|
| PETG | Near active cooler (heat resistant) | | PLA | Decorative parts, low-heat areas | | ABS | Maximum heat resistance |
Recommendation: PETG for main body, PLA for accent pieces.
Print Settings (General)¶
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Layer height | 0.2mm | | Infill | 20-30% | | Supports | Check per model | | Brim | Recommended for stability |
Hardware Kit¶
Common parts needed across designs:
| Part | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| M2.5 x 6mm screws | 4 | Mount Pi to case | | M2.5 nuts | 4 | Some designs | | M3 screws/nuts | Varies | Fan mounting | | Rubber feet | 4 | Anti-slip |
Local 3D Printing (Paraguay)¶
Options for getting STLs printed locally:
- MercadoLibre Paraguay - Search "impresion 3D"
- Facebook Groups - "Impresoras 3D Paraguay"
- Local makerspaces - Check Asuncion tech community
- Universidad Nacional - Engineering departments sometimes offer services
Decision Pending¶
Current favorite: Retro Tower Desktop
Backup: Stamos (if I want quick and simple)
Stretch goal: Cyberpunk with OLED showing Headscale node count
Future Ideas¶
- [ ] OLED display showing connected Tailscale nodes
- [ ] RGB status LED (green=healthy, red=issues)
- [ ] Custom laser-cut acrylic side panel with logo
- [ ] Matching case for RPi 4 (Start9 node) - family aesthetic