Stack Case for Raspberry Pi and HDD, with a hat DAC or DIGI

[PeteB]

I have been running the Pi 2 and DAC+ in a custom case with a Western Digital HDD for about two weeks now, with a 2A 5.25V power supply, so far without any issues. Can't say it is a defintive and exhaustive test, but so far so good.

The case is adapted from an existing design, for the HDD on one layer, and the Pi on a separate layer. The Pi layer has some room for extra circuitry and components like switches or a small display, and the case is expandable from 1 to 3 layers.

The acrylic parts are laser cut, but a few pieces of plexiglass and a good hand with a drill would serve as well. Threaded spacers, fasteners, and washers are available from a hardware store or online.

At the top of the pic, the plastic parts as they come from the shop, with protective paper on both sides. At the bottom of the pic, the HDD and the Pi assembled on the plastic parts (protective paper removed), top cover on the right:



Bottom layer, with the HDD, short spacers and long screws:



Second layer assembled on top of the first, with Raspberry pi, hat DAC, and long spacers, and checking fit with the RCA audio cables and HDD USB cable:



Cover assembled on top of the second layer using the short screws:



Another pic without a hat DAC, and different hardware:



The case works on the same principle as an erector set. The geometry can be changed using the same hardware in different combinations. The layers are square, and can be rotated 90 degrees relative to each other to change the location of the edge connectors. The height of each layer is adjustable using different spacers and screws.

[rastus]

This is very similar to what I've got, but I went with the transparent perspex rather than the black... that way I can clearly see them pretty little LED's, I do so love them LED's. I did read about a battery power pack that had the required screw in points already designed into the upper face of the battery itself, thus only requiring one to screw the Pi onto the battery making for very mobile type Pi with added battery power pack attached. That's one of them new WD Pi HDD's, isn't it? How does that fare? Good, bad, OK? I was thinking to get one of them, haven't checked on price yet.

[PeteB]

This is very similar to what I've got, but I went with the transparent perspex rather than the black... that way I can clearly see them pretty little LED's, I do so love them LED's. I did read about a battery power pack that had the required screw in points already designed into the upper face of the battery itself, thus only requiring one to screw the Pi onto the battery making for very mobile type Pi with added battery power pack attached. That's one of them new WD Pi HDD's, isn't it? How does that fare? Good, bad, OK? I was thinking to get one of them, haven't checked on price yet.

Unfortunately, I have not received the Official WD PiDrive yet.

This is a Western Digital native USB drive (meaning it does not need an SATA-to-USB bridge adapter), from the same family as the Pi Drives, and the latest WD Passport. The PiDrive is optimized by Western Digital in the firmware for the Raspberry Pi USB 2 port, and to limit the startup current. This one is not, but works very well anyway. The read and write speed tests similar to a Pi Drive when connected to a Pi2, but it operates at full USB 3 speeds when connected to a PC. The Pi drive cannot work at USB 3 speeds, but has lower power consumption at startup.

The case was originally designed for a different project a year ago, but it fits the Pi drive well. All I had to do was add mounting holes, and changed the dimensions slightly.

I can still see the LEDs. The LED on the hat DAC is like a backlight for the holes in the cover. Originally this was supposed to be a backlit logo, LOL. The LED on the HDD is a bit bright for my taste. It was always supposed to be black to fit in with audio gear.