I had one of Mr Robot's early prototype NUC-XE cases which was patterned after its big brother the XEGS. However this was not designed with FujiNet in mind, and would require some careful modding to get it to work. But I really wanted to house my naked 576NUC+ with its proto FujiNet board installed. So out came the files, drill bits, and a hot knife.
Luckily there appeared to be just enough headroom to pull this off. Although it would require creating holes right where the top and bottom of the case joined up, which was a tricky proposition to say the least.
Luckily there appeared to be just enough headroom to pull this off. Although it would require creating holes right where the top and bottom of the case joined up, which was a tricky proposition to say the least.
After a lot of careful pencil marks and filing, I was able to create the initial holes for the LEDs and push button switches, and finished it off by holding the case halves together while spinning a drill bit to yield a smooth circle.
For the SD card, I heated up an X-Acto knife, and made a rough cut smaller than required, which I then finished off with a file to the proper size.
For the SD card, I heated up an X-Acto knife, and made a rough cut smaller than required, which I then finished off with a file to the proper size.
On the rear of the case I ended up making a square hole with a file for the reset button instead of a round hole like I had done on the front. I did this because the lid has a lip with an extra thickness which would have required some carving out in order to allow clearance for the body of the push button switch. And although I did this for the front buttons and LEDs, it was a lot work.
I also did something similar for where the serial programming header needed to protrude, but had to make it bigger all the way around so that the serial USB cable's Dupont connector would slide all the way in.
Luckily since the body of the toggle switch sits farther back, I was able to make a round hole between the case halves, same as what was done in the front of the case.
Note: I use a Prolific PL2303 serial UART to USB cable for updating the ESP32's firmware, but a FTDI cable would work just as well.
Luckily since the body of the toggle switch sits farther back, I was able to make a round hole between the case halves, same as what was done in the front of the case.
Note: I use a Prolific PL2303 serial UART to USB cable for updating the ESP32's firmware, but a FTDI cable would work just as well.
Next came some ventilation holes in the bottom, since things did get a little toasty with only the angled vents on the top side.
The holes were started with a small drill bit, and then followed up with a Uni-Bit to the desired size. I was able to get a chamfer by lightly touching the top edge of the hole with the next increment of the Uni-Bit.
Identical holes were added to the other side of the case for a uniform air draw from the bottom to the top via convection.
I am very pleased with the final result, although in the future, proper cases with FujiNet in mind will get designed by Mr Robot for production. In the meantime my NUC is now safe in its cozy little home, and is dwarfed by the XEGS sitting below.
The holes were started with a small drill bit, and then followed up with a Uni-Bit to the desired size. I was able to get a chamfer by lightly touching the top edge of the hole with the next increment of the Uni-Bit.
Identical holes were added to the other side of the case for a uniform air draw from the bottom to the top via convection.
I am very pleased with the final result, although in the future, proper cases with FujiNet in mind will get designed by Mr Robot for production. In the meantime my NUC is now safe in its cozy little home, and is dwarfed by the XEGS sitting below.
Click Image to Enlarge
Click Image to Enlarge And for that added a touch, a proper label was placed in the space already provided for it.
I got this from Sticker You and ordered a sheet of them to share with the beta testers on this project.
Also found some very nice self-adhesive clear silicone feet at Home Depot.
- Michael
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