3D Printable Pi Pie Raspberry Pi Case Using Tinkercad!

How to make a 3D printable Raspberry Pi case!

I'll be using Tinkercad for speed and simplicity's sake but there's no reason you couldn't use other similar software.

This instructable is suitable for anyone with a basic understanding of Tinkercad.

In case anyone just wants to print the one I made the files are available here for free

I also made a slightly more complex version with a lid that slots on to be more secure which is available for free here

Some experience using Tinkercad will help here as I will be recommending tools and shapes by name but will not be going into details as to where to find them etc. as I'll assume you know the basics already.

A 3D printer would be helpful if you're planning to print this once you've made it!

Just to make it quicker and easier and to make this instructable useful regardless of your Pi model, I'll be importing an stl of my Pi and will simply build around that.

I'll be using the Pi 4 model B for this instructable but just import the correct model for your project and build around that.

You can find the stl I used (and find stls for many other models) here: https://grabcad.com/library/raspberry-pi-4-model-b...

• First bring in a box hole and size it so it completely encapsulates your Pi with just a little wiggle room (I gave it an extra 2mm on each side - like picture 1)
  • I rounded the corners as I think it looks nicer (to do this, just increase the radius in the shape tools - I used a radius of 2)
• Now duplicate your box and increase the size so that you have something that looks like the 2nd picture, I made mine about 4mm larger in each direction so I'd have 2mm walls on my case
• Ensure your box hole is raised above the workplane (I gave it 2mm again so the base of my case would be 2mm thick) then group your 2 boxes - it should now look like picture 3.

• Using box holes, make some cut outs for your ports (picture 1)These will vary by model so just work around your Pi model
• Add some cylinder holes if you want to be able to screw your pi into the case - again just line these up with the Pi you imported - picture 2
• Finally, group the holes together with the case

• Bring in another box and round the corners again
• Using the align tool, align the lid with the top of your tin and adjust the size until it fits neatly inside (I gave mine .5mm wiggle room just to be sure it'd fit together and made it 2mm thick - picture 1)
• We won't need the pi or tin models for a while so I hid those objects and placed my lid back on the workplane to make the next steps easier - picture 2

In these steps, ensure any shapes are placed on top of the lid piece, not in-line with it as otherwise they'll interfere with your lid fitting into the case.

• Start by bringing in a half sphere and stretching it across the middle of your lid to form the middle of your pie - picture 1
  
• Now we need more half spheres to make the crust, I think I used 20 in the end
  • Just place them around the outside of your lid until it all looks suitably pie-like. - picture 2
    

(In the spirit of the speed challenge I made this for, I just did this all by eye but you can take your time and place them more carefully for a neater result)

I wanted to add a bit of decoration and a little ventilation too!

You can do this however you like but here, I used the text tool to add 3 'π's as holes - picture 1

Then, group everything together and you should have something like picture 2

Brilliant, that's it! Now you can just unhide the tin, delete the pi model and export your stls ready for printing!

I gave mine a quick coat of paint after printing too but of course that's optional!

You can use the same techniques to build around other objects - you could make a case for just about anything using the basics covered here!