Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a 3D-Printable Raspberry Pi 5 Case in SelfCAD
In this guide, you'll learn how to create a realistic, 3D-printable Raspberry Pi 5 snap-fit case with a power button using SelfCAD. We'll walk through the design process step by step, covering how to create a secure enclosure, add openings for ports, and incorporate features that make the case both practical and visually appealing. By the end of this guide, you'll have a custom Raspberry Pi 5 case ready for 3D printing, along with valuable experience designing functional enclosures for electronic projects.
Steps to Create a Raspberry Pi 5 Snap Fit Case in SelfCAD
Check out the interactive tutorial to learn how to 3D design the raspberry pi case. In summary, start by launching SelfCAD and open the workspace:
The next step is creating the basic shape of the case. Do this by selecting a Cube from the 3D Shapes:
Set the parameters of the cube as follows:
Tick the checkmark to finalize the shape.
Activate Edge Selection, and use it to select the edges of the cube as follows. Select Fillet tool from the Modify category:
Set the Intensity to 15 and Level to 10, then tick the check mark to finalize the fillet:
Make a Copy of the mesh.
Scale down the copy of the mesh made and use Move tool to position it as follows:
Select the two objects, and select Difference tool from the Boolean tools to remove the copy of the mesh:
Select a Cylinder from the 3D Shapes and set the parameters as follows then tick the check mark to finalize it:
Use Copy Offset tool to make the many copies of the cylinder and position them as follows:
Positioned X to 6:
Make copies of the cylinders and position the as follows:
Select all the objects:
Use Copy Offset tool to make the copies and fill the shape as follows:
Select the side cylinders to exclude them, and use Group tool to group the cylinders to group them:
You will remain with the cylinders as follows:
Select the cylinder on the end, use Cube Selection to select 60 percentage of it as follows:
Click Delete to delete the selected part.
Use Fill Polygon from the Tools category to fill the object:
Use Copy Offset tool to make 12 copies of that object and position it as follows:
On the Utilities select Mirror tool and use it to make the Copies and Offset to 44:
Then use the Move tool to position it on the other opposite side.
Select the cylinders shapes and cube. Use the Difference tool from the Boolean tools to subtract it:
After the subtraction this is how the new shape will be:
Use the Mirror tool to Create the copy and position it on the top as shown:
Select a Cube from the 3D Shapes and set the parameters such that it fits inside the mesh we have. Use the Fillet tool to shape as follows:
Make a Copy of the cube. Scale it down as follows:
Use Difference tool to remove the copy:
Use Union to merge all the objects:
Unhide the top mesh, then use the Difference tool to subtract it. Turn on the Keep Subtracted Object:
Then this is how it will look like:
Select a Cube from the 3D Shapes and set the parameters as follows:
Make a copy of the cube and scale it as shown:
Make another copy and move it as shown:
Select another cube and set the parameters. Then tick the check mark to finalize the object:
Create two more cubes and place them on the other side as well. Use Union tool from Boolean to merge the side cubes:
Select the Cube again and size as shown. Use Fillet tool to modify it as follows:
Select all the cubes and use Union to merge them:
Select all the objects on the workspace and use the Difference tool to remove the cubes merged:
Select a Capsule from the 3D Shapes and set the parameters as follows:
Merge the capsule and cylinder:
Move the object on the other side. Use the Mirror tool from Utilities to make another copy and move it on the other side:
Merge all of the copies using the Union tool.
Unhide the top part:
Select the two objects. Remove the below object using Difference tool from the Boolean:
Turn on the Keep the Subtracted Object on:
The case is now ready:
Give it a color of your choice from the Color Picker:
Along the way in this guide, you've learned valuable techniques for designing enclosures, creating precise cutouts, and incorporating snap-fit features that allow for easy assembly. Modeling the box is only half the project. The other half is making the electronics and software inside it behave reliably, and that requires a different skill set. Since this enclosure was designed for 3D printing, the focus is often on creating a functional and printable design, but the firmware is what brings the device to life. A hobby project can run simple firmware that crashes once a day and is fixed by unplugging it. A device intended to operate unattended for months must handle dropped Wi-Fi connections, low battery conditions, and software updates without failing. That is why hardware development for embedded IoT devices becomes a specialized discipline once a project grows beyond the hobby stage. For a desk monitor or similar DIY project, however, the Arduino IDE and a well-written main loop are usually more than sufficient.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.