Easily organize your Raspberry Pi boards by 3D printing simple custom shelves. Learn how to design and print shelves for your Raspberry Pi in this easy-to-follow guide.

If you’re working on multiple Raspberry Pi projects, keeping your boards organized can be challenging. 3D printing your own shelves is an affordable and customizable solution to help manage your Pi boards efficiently. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to design and 3D print basic shelves for your Raspberry Pi.

Step 1: Design Your Shelf

The first step is to design a shelf that fits your needs. You can either create your own design using Tinkercad (a free, easy-to-use 3D design tool) or download a pre-made design from sites like Thingiverse. If you want a simple design:

• Size: Ensure the shelf is big enough to hold your Pi board with extra space for cables.

• Mounting Holes: Add small holes if you plan to mount the shelf on a wall or desk.

• Stackability: If you want multiple shelves, design them so they can be stacked or connected.

Step 2: Prepare for 3D Printing

Once your design is ready, export it as an STL file. Then, import the STL file into slicing software like Cura or PrusaSlicer to prepare it for printing.

• Layer Height: For a good balance of speed and quality, use a layer height of 0.2 mm.

• Infill: A 15-20% infill will make your shelf sturdy enough for most uses.

• Supports: If your design has overhanging parts, enable supports to prevent sagging during printing.

Step 3: Choose the Right Filament

For simple shelves, PLA filament is an excellent choice because it is easy to print and strong enough for lightweight applications like holding Raspberry Pi boards.

• PLA: Affordable and easy to use. Works for most applications.

• PETG: If you want something more durable, PETG offers increased strength and flexibility.

Step 4: Print Your Shelf

Load your filament into the printer and start the print. Depending on the size of your shelf, this could take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours.

Step 5: Assemble and Mount

Once the print is done, remove any supports and sand down rough edges if necessary. If you’ve added mounting holes, you can screw the shelf to a wall or desk. Alternatively, place it on your desk for a quick storage solution.

3D printing a simple shelf for your Raspberry Pi is a quick and cost-effective way to keep your boards organized. Whether you choose to design your own or download a ready-made file, 3D printing offers endless customization options. This easy project is a great starting point for anyone looking to get more organized with their Raspberry Pi setups.