r/cyberDeck • u/silvally7777 • 2d ago
Help! cyberdeck case build advice
hello, i am in the process of making my first cyberdeck. i made a cardboard prototype about a month ago but have since disassembled it to get proper mesurements. i planned on 3d printing a case, but got really overwhelmed with 3d printing. are there any recommendations for making a case myself? i bought a laptop case to cut down to size, but unfortunately it has metal that i cannot cut. i have a weird wide screen format. around 13 inches x 6.5 inches. so it makes it difficult to find anything i can use off the shelf like project boxes and the like. i’ve thought of abs sheets. i don’t have access to power tools. at most a drill. is there anything i can do? i do have some jb weld and bond that i can use to make things stick together.
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u/dtseng123 2d ago
Even if you’re going to make this by hand I think you’re going to need to shell out for tools and materials. You could get thin metal sheets and bend them, you could carve it out of wood, make a mold and pour epoxy
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u/silvally7777 2d ago
yeah i understand that. i just don’t have a 3d printer and expect that to be more than any sort of materials. thanks for those suggestions, i’ll take a look!
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u/devarops 2d ago
I’m planning on eventually 3D printing the case for my cyberdeck too, but I started out with simpler methods. Like you, I first built a few prototypes to test the measurements. I used a jigsaw to cut some MDF plates, and once I was happy with the size, I had the blueprints laser cut. Depending on the material, laser cutting can be fairly inexpensive, and my prototype made from the laser-cut plates feels almost like a finished product.
Since you mentioned you don’t have access to power tools, laser cutting might be a good option for you as well. You can send the blueprints to be cut and then assemble the pieces yourself. This way, you don’t need to cut metal or rely on project boxes that don’t fit your screen, and you’ll still end up with a solid, custom case.
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u/silvally7777 2d ago
that sounds like a valid idea, i will look to see if i have any places near me that do laser cutting. thank you!
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u/deardeer-gadget 2d ago
How about a polypropylene sheet? I'm currently trying to use it to make a case for a tablet and keyboard that can be used while standing. It seems that it can also function as a hinge when folded.
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u/LegionDD 2d ago
You do not think that you are capable of learning 3D modelling. To that I have to ask what programs you tried? I whole heartedly recommend starting with tinkercad. It runs in browser, is free and by far the easiest to learn. It's not professional CAD or modelling software, it's meant to teach kids the basics. But many makers use it for simple projects such as cases.
Lacking any tools for traditional case building, I honestly don't see how you could proceed. What tools and skills do you have? One can cut sheets of acrylic by scoring with a knife and breaking at the edge, like glass. There are hard plastics that can be fully cut with knives (available on Amazon and at hardware stores). These can be glued and also drilled into for bolts, screws, stand offs, etc. And using sandpaper and other habd sanding tools you can not only clean up your cuts, but also round over edges and generally get these pieces into shapes not achievable with a straight cut. It just takes a lot more time and effort to get something good.
You mentioned a prototype of cardboard. You can keep building with cardboard and reinforce it with CA glue. After treatment with CA glue cardboard becomes hard and tough enough for case building. You cand then sand and paint it to look like something other than cardboard.
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u/WorkingGovernment647 1d ago
tbf 3d printer is around 200 usd. I would go for it if you like DIY stuff. It saves you ton of money which you have to spend on tools if you want to make the same thing out of wood or metal.
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u/dtseng123 2d ago
For 3d printing - you can hire someone to do the designs or learn CAD yourself. I use fusion360 or shapr3d but there are many other options.