This 3D Printed Case brings DIY NAS building to a new level

Meet the 3Dwebe MK735, the ultimate DIY NAS case

| Source: 3Dwebe Author: Mark Campbell

This 3D Printed Case brings DIY NAS building to a new level

Today, we're looking at a PC case that truly puts the DIY back into the DIY PC market, an enclosure that doesn't come pre-fabricated, and requires a lot of time, effort, and a 3D Printer to construct.



Meet the 3Dwebe MK735, the Mini Server/NAS case that you can manufacture at home and tweak to meet your specific requirements. This case is designed for those who do not want to settle for a store-bought NAS enclosure and those who take pride in the "I built that" aspects of custom PC building.



With support for up to seven 3.5-inch drives, the 3Dwebe MK735 is a verifiable storage monster. On top of this, the MK735 supports standard Mini-ITX and Mini-DTX motherboards, a full-sized ATX power supply (up to 170mm in depth) and half-height PCIe add-on cards. Add-in the case's airflow-oriented design, and we have an excellent home server chassis on our hands.



3D Printing a PC Case



The 3D Printing community is filled with makers and tinkerers, making custom PC building a commonly shared hobby amongst for fans of in-home manufacturing. The 3Dwebe MK735 is a compelling case where these hobbies intersect, making this enclosure en exciting prospect for the right individuals.



Right now, the design files for the MK735 NAS Chassis are available to purchase on the design's myminifactory page, though more information about the enclosure is available on the official 3Dwebe website.



While you could, theoretically, design your own 3D printable case yourself, but it would be a challenge to design and manufacture an enclosure that's on the same level as the MK735. It's sturdy, well ventilated and supports more hard drives than most home users could ever need. It also pushes the limits of what's possible on 3D printers like the Prusa MK3S.





(Images from 3Dwebe)

Detailed Documentation and Test Files



When you buy the 3Dwebe MK735, you don't just get a set of STL files; you get detailed documentation for the case's manufacture, recommendations for materials, slicer settings, and other tips that will help builders ensure that their 3D prints are successful.



Even before you purchase the design files for the MK735, 3Dwebe has provided with everything that 3D printers will need to get started. This documentation includes the specifications of the printer you will need (a minimum build area of X:250mm Y:210mm Z:200mm) and a set of test files which will allow prospective buyers to know if their 3D printers are accurate enough for the task.



This project is also said to take around 227 hours of printing time to complete, assuming that you have no failed prints or other mishaps.



Customisation Options



Let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. If you build this case yourself, you will get to choose the colouring of your MK735 enclosure. Want it to be black and grey, brown and beige or pink and green? You do you. Outside of that, the MK735's design files can be customised to contain company logos, custom lettering, or other unique add-ons.



Several paid-for add-ons for the 3Dwebe MK735 are also available, such as custom 3.5-inch to 2x 2.5-inch drive bay adapters and filtered intakes for the enclosure. These add-ons cost $2.50 and $2 respectively, which will grant owners access to their design files and all relevant documentation.



When speaking to Toby, the Engineer behind the 3Dwebe, we were also informed that an owner of the design called Vindar (more information is on the MK735's myminifactory page) was able to shorten the case to fit the enclosure inside a tight space. This change limited the case to four 3.5-inch drive bays and an SFX power supply highlighting the versatility of 3Dwebe's design.





(Images from 3Dwebe)

Limitations



The only real limitation of the MK735 is your 3D printer. As we mentioned previously, you will need a printer with a minimum build area of X:250mm Y:210mm Z:200mm. This means that popular 3D printers like the Ender 3 will not have enough x-width to create the 3Dwebe MK735.



Future Projects



Like any good designer, Toby from 3Dwebe has several new designs in the works, including a mini NAS case that's designed with the Kobol Helios64 NAS board in mind. The Helios64 is an ARM-based NAS board that's purpose-built to deliver everything a NAS owner should need at a low price. 3Dwebe's case design for the Helios64 will support Nano-ITX motherboards (specifically the Helios64) and support five 2.5-inch drives within an estimated 160x160x160mm form factor.



On top of this, Toby expressed interest in creating a smaller version of his MK735 design. This case will be designed with popular 3D printers like the Creality Ender 3 in mind, and support fewer hard drives and smaller SFX or FlexATX power supplies. This design is in its early prototyping stages, and the project has no firm release date.



Closing Thoughts



The 3Dwebe MK735 is a fascinating case design which merges the joys of custom PC building and 3D printing. Furthermore, the case is a triumph of NAS case design, offering ample airflow, a compact form factor and easy access to your mechanical storage drives. Just looking at it makes me want to build a NAS, and that's a beautiful thing.



For more information about the 3Dwebe MK735, please head over the official 3Dwebe website. Those who wish to purchase this NAS enclosure design should head over to the MK735's myminifactory page. Remember to print 3Dwebe's test files before purchasing this case, as it may save you some heartache later.



You can join the discussion on 3Dwebe's 3D printable server/NAS case on the OC3D Forums.

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