FlashForge Creator Pro Pi4 Hex Case on Spool Holder

thingiverse

Description: I bought a Raspberry Pi 4b 4GB for running Octopi on my FlashForge Creator Pro. I couldn't find a Pi4 case that was compatible with my printer so I took the Pi3 Sleeve Case dewhisna designed and remixed it with the Pi4B+ Hex Case by cartermultz https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4079600 to create this mashup. The lid/top cover can be downloaded in the design from cartermultz. Please note you will need a model to replace your factory spool holders to use this Pi4 case since it replaces one of the factory spool holders on the rear of the FFCP. Just to note I use this design from tmessori: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2268148 to allow easier access to change the filament and to free up space for the Pi4 case. There are other designs out there to move the filament spool holders on the FFCP and as I learned they're not all compatible depending on the revision of the FFCP you own. Design: I made this by pulling both the Pi3 Sleeve Case and the Pi4B+ Hex Case in to Tinkercad and cut out the Pi3 case portion of the mount. I overlapped the hex case over the bracket and added a solid structure to the bottom of the hex case. I found in test printing that the supports for under the case worked better with a solid platform since it prints in mid-air thus the hex holes on the underside of the case are filled in. I added the hole back in the bottom to pass the optional camera ribbon through and tested my amateur Tinkercad skills at rounding off the corners for the solid bottom. Filing in these holes will obviously reduce the airflow around the bottom of the Pi, but I think there are enough on the sides and top that it won't be a problem. Print Settings: You will definitely need supports for this model. I configured it in my slicer to print base that fits inside the spool holder toward the build plate with supports touching build plate. The.stl file should already be oriented this way. In other words, the solid bottom of the Pi4 case faced my build plate. I used a raft to help build plate adhesion of the supports and you may also need to add a brim. Don't print it with supports everywhere since each hex opening in the case will have supports that you'll need to remove and you'll want those holes so heat from your Pi can vent! I did add a couple supports in the FlashPrint support editor so the small space under the case that touched the spool holder bracket rather than the build plate would print better but I think it may be okay without it. I also printed this at 25% infill using PLA but I expect it doesn't need much infill since there's really little weight to support and should work in ABS. The USB, Ethernet and micro HDMI punch outs came out cleanly but I found I needed to take my flush cutters and trim out the micro SD card slot and I used the cutter blades to scrape out the USB-C power plug since mine would fall out. This may be due to the diameter of the plastic around my power plug (it's the CanaKit USB-C power supply) or the fact that I modified the case base by adding the solid underside.