Cheap DIY 10" Rack

[symbiiote]

So I made a super cheap 10 inch rack using 3D printed parts anyone can find online and two pairs of 8U rack rails. Huge credit to all the people who made the STL files I used for this project. Everything in this project was printed on a CR-10. I used PLA (works for me for now) but I would recommend using a stronger filament.

YouTube

Items used for the build:
2x Gator rack screws
2x Gator 8U Rails
10 inch shelf Credit: u/goyko
10 inch blank Credit: u/Mauker
10 inch blank Thicc version
Dell optiplex 7060 mount (works perfectly for the 3050 aswell) Credit: u/TimPrints_686384
TP-Link ER605 shelf (also works for TL-SG108S) Credit: u/FloKun_144444
Rack feet Credit: u/themassofthes_234253
1U Blank with pass through Credit: u/towilab

I used about 9 1U blanks that I made thicker in Cura. (Super easy to do but if anyone wants the file I can make a remix and post it online). 2 on each of the sides, 4 on the back just to stiffen it up and one on the bottom front. Using the blank with a hole on the top/front to keep things together (I changed this later on to a 12 port 0.5U patch from GeekPi).

You will need to get a pack of nuts a bolts for the sides. There aren’t any threads in these holes. (At least from what I saw on mine) I just used washers on the plastic side to prevent damaged.

The server has been running in a small cabinet with two fans keeping it cool. I have noticed a very small amount of droop from the dell minis. Not enough to bug me but it is there.

Total build price was about $70 including the 12 port patch and short cat6a cables. $38 without those two. This doesn’t include the filament because I have so much PLA that was sitting in my garage that really didn’t cost me anything.

[bortuzar]

Looks awesome!
Could you please post online the ticker 1U blanks that you made in Cura. Thanks!

[symbiiote]

Looks awesome! Could you please post online the ticker 1U blanks that you made in Cura. Thanks!

Here you go. It might be a bit thicker than my original version.

https://www.printables.com/model/1160147-thicc-blank-for-10-inch-rack

[bortuzar]

Thanks for sharing your project and links with the community! I Benjamin Ortuzar ***@***.***

…

On Wed, 22 Jan 2025 at 6:33 PM symbiiote ***@***.***> wrote: Looks awesome! Could you please post online the ticker 1U blanks that you made in Cura. Thanks! Here you go. It might be a bit thicker than my original version. https://www.printables.com/model/1160147-thicc-black-for-10-inch-rack — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#67 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAAEXLBTHCEIHROTQSXJRBD2MAFCZAVCNFSM6AAAAABVRVBPFOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDMMBYGMYTINZYGM> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[taggart]

This made me realize something: I see 42U 19" racks (sometimes enclosed, sometimes not) for cheap/free from time to time. It would take some work but you could cut one of those apart to make a ton of small racks like this. Many of those free ones are the kind with square holes that use rack nuts, that might be ok. Many others are threaded holes but probably 10-32 or 12-24 rather than M6.
Same thing could maybe be done with surplus 2-post telecomm racks, although those are often often much larger material because the rails are the rack.

[cvpsmith]

First of all, GREAT project! Thanks for posting! I'm in the process of building a 10U version right now.

If anyone is interested in finding a power strip for a 10U version of this build, I managed to find one that fits perfectly: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2KNB47G?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

[symbiiote]

First of all, GREAT project! Thanks for posting! I'm in the process of building a 10U version right now.

If anyone is interested in finding a power strip for a 10U version of this build, I managed to find one that fits perfectly: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2KNB47G?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Your build is coming out GREAT! Im definitely grabbing one of those power strips! Thanks!

[cvpsmith]

Im definitely grabbing one of those power strips!

Thanks! Keep in mind that that particular model of the power strip may be too tall for your 8U rail kit, but they do may shorter versions of the same brand/design of strip (though I'm not positive that the bolt holes will line up just right on the smaller ones.

I'd say I'm about 70-75% done printing all of the parts and getting it together. I'll post some more pictures (and a parts list specific to my build) once it's complete, if anyone is interested...

[cvpsmith]

Progress! As you can see, I like to label things. So far, so good! Looks like I need to reprint the bottom tray under the Synology though; it crapped out on me a bit. Good thing I ordered plenty of print material!

EDIT: I'm printing a 1U match to my Arris Surfboard cable modem in the top 1U, and I ordered this from Amazon to cover the top. Hopefully, it will work. Adding another 2.5GBe switch on the bottom of what's there and another modular Raspberry Pi 5+SSD half that I hope to combine with a JetKVM for the right module.

EDIT2: The modular 1U I got from here: https://makerworld.com/en/models/686084?from=search#profileId-614713

[symbiiote]

top 1U, and I ordered this from Amazon to cover

It looks amazing! Do you have a link to the nuts and bolts you used on the sides?

[phixxy]

Hey this build is really great and I am thinking about doing the same thing. I don't have a 3D printer but I priced out 4 blanks and some mounting panels I would need for pi's and as long as I order enough 3D printed parts from this seller it seems to come out incredibly cheap overall. Basically I just need 4 rails, the screws, and the 4 blanks right? I was also hoping for a link for the nuts and bolts on the sides, as I have never done any rack related stuff before so not sure what I need there. Thanks.

[cvpsmith]

I already had the nuts and bolts from some sets for a full-size rack, but they obviously work the same. Here's an Amazon link.

I just used pliers to peel off the bolt attachments, which is pretty easy to do. It's hard to find nut/bolt packs on Amazon that aren't an assortment, so this is the best that I could do. I promise that they will work, though!

[cvpsmith]

BTW, here's the progress on my build! It's in "production" use now; just waiting for my RPi5+POE/NVMe hat and my JetKVM to come in! I used @just_actual_kev's 10" modular 1U project for the Pi4/5 and JetKVM module (he actually designed and posted the model for everyone just because I expressed interest! Thanks Kev!!).

[cvpsmith]

I still have 1U reserved for another identical 2.5GBe/POE switch in the middle. This is sort of a "do everything" type of homelab since it provides networking for me, my wife and my two sons (and they're ALL gamers!). I have a 4x8TB Synology in there for (four desktop PC) backups, since I've had more than a few SSDs fail on me at this point. I have a 2.5GBe USB adapter for the Synology on the way. It also has a RockPi4 and I have the RasPi5 on the way, for service/Docker testing (I do Linux admin/network/devops work to pay for all of this stuff!).

I also ordered this from Amazon (flipped upside down) to act as a top cover for the rack. We'll see how it goes!

PS. As you can see, I like to label ALL THE THINGS!

EDIT: Sorry guys, I didn't realize that I had already posted some of these details in my previous posts. I guess I'm getting old!

[cvpsmith]

Also, here's a closeup of the nuts and bolts in question.