Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Case (Self-Tap or Heat-Set Insert Base, Snap-Fit Plain / GPIO / 30mm Fan Lids)

A two-piece PETG case for the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B. Pick one of two bases (self-tapping screws or heat-set inserts) and one of three lids: plain vented, GPIO slot, or 30mm fan.

Designed in SolidCraft from the official Raspberry Pi 3 Model B mechanical drawing. The board outline, mounting holes and connector positions follow the drawing. Raspberry Pi doesn't dimension the connector widths, so the cutout widths are my estimates. The CAD interference check between the case and the board and connector reference models came out clean.

Features

• Outer size: 90 x 61mm. The lid adds a 2mm plate on top of the base.
• Snap-fit lid: a 3mm deep lip with 0.2mm fit gap, and snap bumps with 45 degree ramps that click into windows in the base. No screws needed for the lid.
• Port openings:
• Right side: both USB stacks (4 USB ports) and Ethernet
• Front: micro USB power, full-size HDMI and 3.5mm audio
• Left side: microSD
• Vents: 5 floor vent slots under the SoC area. The plain lid has 7 vent slots.
• 4 standoffs on the board's 58 x 49mm mounting pattern

Two bases

• Self-tap base (pi3b_base): 26.5mm tall (28.5mm with the lid). 2.2mm pilot holes for M2.5 self-tapping screws.
• Heat-set insert base (pi3b_base_inserts): 27.5mm tall (29.5mm with the lid). The standoffs are 1mm taller and 6.2mm wide, with 3.6mm blind holes 5mm deep for M2.5 x 4mm brass heat-set inserts (a 1mm floor is left under each hole). The board sits 1mm higher, and the port cutouts move with it. The lid lip still clears the USB ports by 1.1mm.
• The insert size is assumed, not measured: an M2.5 x 4mm knurled insert with about 3.5 to 4.0mm OD for a 3.6mm hole. Check your insert maker's recommended hole size.
• Install: press each insert in at about 220 to 240C (PETG) until flush, let it cool, then use M2.5 x 5 to 6mm screws.

Lid options

• Plain vented lid
• GPIO lid with a 56 x 6mm slot over the 40-pin header for a ribbon cable or jumper wires
• 30mm fan lid: a round grille with 4 bosses with 2.5mm pilot holes for M3 fan screws
• All lids fit both bases, because the lid shape is the same relative to the rim. The _h27_5 lid files are the same plain and GPIO lids, positioned for the 27.5mm insert base in the assembly files. Either version prints the same.

Approximate PETG mass (from CAD at 1.27 g/cm3, 100% solid; actual use depends on your slicer settings)

• Self-tap base: 28.93g
• Heat-set insert base: 29.66g
• Plain lid: 14.45g
• GPIO lid: 13.59g
• 30mm fan lid: 14.42g

Also see my Raspberry Pi 5 case (AI Camera lid, room for the AI HAT+ and Active Cooler): https://cults3d.com/:5065232

Raspberry Pi is a trademark of Raspberry Pi Ltd. This is an independent design, not affiliated with or endorsed by Raspberry Pi Ltd.

Planned for the full set

This is part of a planned family of Raspberry Pi cases, all modeled from the official Raspberry Pi mechanical drawings. Planned boards and configurations are below. No release dates yet; each will be added as it's designed and test printed.

Boards:

• Raspberry Pi 5 (available now in my shop)
• Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (this listing)
• Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (coming soon)
• Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
• Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+
• Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+
• Raspberry Pi Zero and Zero W
• Raspberry Pi 400 accessories (stand and wall mount)

Configurations (where the board supports them):

• Plain cases in low profile and tall versions
• Fan and heatsink versions, including the official Raspberry Pi 5 Active Cooler
• PoE / PoE+ HAT clearance (Pi 3B+, Pi 4B and Pi 5)
• NVMe M.2 HAT+ clearance (Pi 5)
• AI HAT+ and AI Kit clearance (Pi 5)
• Camera lids for Camera Module 3 and the AI Camera
• Sense HAT and generic HAT stack cases
• Official 7 inch Touch Display enclosure
• DIN rail, VESA and wall mount adapters
• Multi-board cluster stack