Raspberry Pi 4 2U rackmount bracket

Raspberry Pi 4 2U rack-mount bracket by russross via https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4078710

A bracket to mount the Raspberry Pi 4 in a standard 19-inch server rack. This will fit 12 RPi 4 units using Power Over Ethernet (PoE) in a 2U space for a very simple and tidy cluster solution. I use the official PoE hat put out by the Raspberry Pi Foundation that normally sells for $20.

This is based heavily on:

• Raspberry Pi Blade Center / Rackmount

but is created from scratch using OpenSCAD. This design is optimized for the Raspberry Pi 4 with a PoE hat. I also tweaked several other aspects of the original design.

Update: I have made a 1U variant of this that uses the same basic design but fits 6 units horizontally. The tray is exactly the same, so you can move units between racks easily. Personally I prefer the 2U design, but if you only need up to 6 units you can save some space and have a nice upgrade path:

• https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4125055

Here are all of the parts you will need for a complete 12-Pi cluster:

To print:

• 12 frame parts, optionally without notches on one
• 12 tray parts
• 2 ear parts, optionally without notches on one

Other hardware:

• 4 threaded rods cut to 17 5/8 inches. I recommend buying two 36-inch rods, each of which is enough for two finished rods. Cut them with a hacksaw or a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel. I suggest #10 size in the USA. Not sure which metric sizes are commonly available, but M5 would be a close match (you will need to download the OpenSCAD files and adjust the hole sizes).
• 8 hex nuts that fit the threaded rods.
• 48 machine screws of size M2.5 x 12 (that's 4 for each Pi). I got a pack of 100 for about $10.

The remaining hardware (spacers and screws) comes with the PoE hat. You will have 4 extra screws from each PoE hat kit that you replace with the M2.5 x 12 screws listed above.

Finally, a PoE switch and a suitable Ethernet cable for each Pi.

Update: I can't get the customizer to work, so I've consolidated everything into one project. The STL files should suffice for most people, but if you want to customize the design you can use the SCAD files, which should be fairly easy to tweak.

The most common things you might want to tweak using the OpenSCAD files are:

Changing the size to fit 12 (default), 13 (still works with PoE), or 14 (does NOT fit PoE hats) Pi units in a single 2U rack.

Changing the size of the threaded rods that hold it all together, or changing the size of the bolts used to mount it to a standard 19-inch rack.

• Adjusting the fit of the tray where it slides into the frame. The fit may vary a bit from printer to printer and depending on the material you use (I use PLA).

Note that the pictures and the video show a rack with 13 boards, but the default size is now 12. If you want 13 you will need to download the OpenSCAD files and change the setting.

Print Settings

Printer brand:

Ultimaker

Printer:

Ultimaker 2 Extended

Rafts:

No

Supports:

Yes

Notes:

Use supports for all parts. When printing the tray, I recommend generating supports but using an overhang angle of 60 degrees. It should only generate supports for the recessed screw head holes.

Avoid rafts if possible so that the bottom of each piece is smooth and flat. This will give a better fit. I also avoided brims especially on the tray part for a cleaner fit.