3D printer or
printing service
amazon.co.uk
Digital Vernier calliper
amazon.co.uk
2 / PICK HARDWARE ORIENTATION
Popular small 3D case designs, such as Kolink’s Rocket, position the
motherboard on one side of the case, and the GPU on another, drawing
in air through a side panel. These designs are easy to print and can allow
for a range of cooling options, making them good options for a first try.
MODDING / HOW TO GUIDES
3D-print
a PC case
How to
3 / LAY OUT HARDWARE
To get inspiration for design tweaks, lay out your hardware as you plan
to position it in the case. This st ep can help when placing fan mounts,
and working out how best to ventilate and cool your PC.
W
e’ve looked at 3D printing numerous times over the years, but
the steady progress of the technology, as well as falling printer
prices, means it’s now possible to create and print an entire PC
case without spending a fortune. In fact, for just a few hundred pounds you
can own a 3D printer that can print huge sections of a case in one go, so the
main part of creating a custom rig is just designing it. Some CAD software is
free to use, and 3D printing filament is affordable, so the only limits are the
size of objects your printer can create
It’s not all plain sailing, though, as you’ll need to ensure millimetre-level
precision in many parts, while also thinking about cooling and mounting
your hardware. We’ve teamed up with Dremel, which sent us its flagship
3D45 3D Printer, to show you how to start and make use of pre-created
files, as well as how to download an entire case design to print at home
without doing any designing yourself.
Antony Leather shows
you how to design a PC
case with CAD and then
3D-print it
TOTAL PROJECT TIME / 72 HOURS
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
1 / CHOOSE YOUR PRINTER
3D printers have differing print areas, so work out the minimum print
size you need in order to create your PC case. To save on space, you
might want to use an SFX PSU and mini-ITX motherboard.
3D design app
or software
tinkercad.com
hsmag.cc
If you like this,
you’ll love
3D printer or
printing service
amazon.co.uk
Digital Vernier calliper
amazon.co.uk
2 / PICK HARDWARE ORIENTATION
Popularsmall3Dcasedesigns,suchasKolink’sRocket,positionthe
motherboardononesideofthecase,andtheGPUonanother,drawing
inairthrougha sidepanel.Thesedesignsareeasytoprintandcanallow
fora rangeofcoolingoptions,makingthemgoodoptionsfora firsttry.
MODDING / HOW TO GUIDES
3D-print
a PC case
How to
3 / LAYOUTHARDWARE
Togetinspirationfordesigntweaks,layoutyourhardwareasyouplan
topositionit inthecase.Thisst epcanhelpwhenplacingfanmounts,
andworkingouthowbesttoventilateandcoolyourPC.
W
e’ve looked at 3D printing numerous times over the years, but
the steady progress of the technology, as well as falling printer
prices, means it’s now possible to create and print an entire PC
case without spending a fortune. In fact, for just a few hundred pounds you
can own a 3D printer that can print huge sections of a case in one go, so the
main part of creating a custom rig is just designing it. Some CAD software is
free to use, and 3D printing filament is affordable, so the only limits are the
size of objects your printer can create
It’s not all plain sailing, though, as you’ll need to ensure millimetre-level
precision in many parts, while also thinking about cooling and mounting
your hardware. We’ve teamed up with Dremel, which sent us its flagship
3D45 3D Printer, to show you how to start and make use of pre-created
files, as well as how to download an entire case design to print at home
withoutdoinganydesigningyourself.
Antony Leather shows
you how to design a PC
case with CAD and then
3D-printit
TOTAL PROJECT TIME / 72 HOURS
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
1 / CHOOSE YOUR PRINTER
3D printers have differing print areas, so work out the minimum print
size you need in order to create your PC case. To save on space, you
might want to use an SFX PSU and mini-ITX motherboard.
3D design app
or software
tinkercad.com
hsmag.cc
If you like this,
you’ll love