Help with Snap Together Enclosure

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corradojeff
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2017 5:13 am

Help with Snap Together Enclosure

Post by corradojeff »

Hi, I am brand new to 3D modelling and CAD of any kind. I have been 3D printing for a while and decided to try to make a Pi3 Nintendo inspired enclosure for my RetroPi as my first project.

I have designed the case, minus some small aesthetic details, and now I am trying to decide how to join the two halves.

I designed my own case because I couldn't find a NES case for the Pi3 that was completely screw-less and with the Pi oriented the way I wanted. I would like the two halves to snap together and back apart (cantilever) but I don't know what the best way to do that is. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

Please see the attached files for reference.

Thanks

OS: Mac OS X
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.16.6706 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: tag: 0.16.6706
Hash: f86a4e411ff7848dea98d7242f43b7774bee8fa0
Python version: 2.7.11
Qt version: 4.8.7
Coin version: 3.1.3
OCC version: 6.8.0.oce-0.17
Attachments
MY NES BOTTOM.FCStd
(124.71 KiB) Downloaded 30 times
MY NES TOP.FCStd
(126.28 KiB) Downloaded 29 times
renatorivo
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Posts: 2611
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:07 pm
Location: Torino - Italy

Re: Help with Snap Together Enclosure

Post by renatorivo »

Ciao Corrado

If I understand correctly, you want to join the two parts in this way
NES1.png
NES1.png (11.14 KiB) Viewed 1285 times
Open MY NES BOTTOM
Select File->Merge project and select MY NES TOP
Make sure you are in Part WB, select MY NES TOP (Pocket004) and apply Part-> Create a simple copy (Pocket005)
By Property Placement move Pocket005 in the right position
MY NES Renato.FCStd
(254.75 KiB) Downloaded 37 times
Renato
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NormandC
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Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:52 pm
Location: Québec, Canada

Re: Help with Snap Together Enclosure

Post by NormandC »

Hello,
renatorivo wrote:If I understand correctly, you want to join the two parts in this way
corradojeff asks for advice on designing a snapping system to join the bottom and top enclosures together.
corradojeff wrote: I would like the two halves to snap together and back apart (cantilever)
I'm not sure what you mean by cantilever. Would that be a hinge?

EDIT: this PDF may give you ideas: http://web.mit.edu/2.75/resources/rando ... Manual.pdf
corradojeff
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2017 5:13 am

Re: Help with Snap Together Enclosure

Post by corradojeff »

NormandC wrote:Hello,
renatorivo wrote:If I understand correctly, you want to join the two parts in this way
corradojeff asks for advice on designing a snapping system to join the bottom and top enclosures together.
corradojeff wrote: I would like the two halves to snap together and back apart (cantilever)
I'm not sure what you mean by cantilever. Would that be a hinge?

EDIT: this PDF may give you ideas: http://web.mit.edu/2.75/resources/rando ... Manual.pdf
That PDF is excellent. Thank you.

I decided to just give it a go and I designed a snap together case that I think will work well. I am currently in the process of printing it. Wish me luck.

If anyone is curious to see how I designed it just ask and I will upload the files.
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NormandC
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Posts: 18587
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:52 pm
Location: Québec, Canada

Re: Help with Snap Together Enclosure

Post by NormandC »

corradojeff wrote:If anyone is curious to see how I designed it just ask and I will upload the files.
We're always interested in how people use FreeCAD for their personal projects.

How about posting your files and pictures of your 3D printed enclosure when it's done in the Users showcase forum? :)
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