Making a 3D Printed Case for the Lilygo T-Deck
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- Опубликовано: 28 янв 2024
- www.printables.com/model/7411...
Here are a few Etsy links if you want to buy the case. It's not my store, but the quality looks great and their reviews are excellent:
goodsbypratik.etsy.com/listin...
3g3dprinting.etsy.com/listing...
This store is located in the UK:
3dchicken.co.uk/products/lily...
Today on Random Alley Cat, in what has become are series on Lilygo Cases, we're showcasing another nifty little project for all you fans of Meshtastic and LoRa communication. We've designed and 3D printed a sleek, custom enclosure for the Lilygo T-Deck, a pocket-sized gadget boasting a 2.8-inch IPS LCD display, a mini keyboard, and an ESP32 dual-core processor. This device, while not quite a smartphone, can be transformed into a standalone messaging device or a coding platform with your programming skills.
In this video, we're focusing purely on the assembly process of this unique enclosure. Designed for simplicity and functionality, this case is perfect for protecting and enhancing your T-Deck, making it a superb mini cyberdeck for your LoRa adventures.
Whether you're a seasoned pro in 3D printing and assembly or just starting out, this video is a great resource for learning how to protect and personalize your Lilygo T-Deck. Dive in and discover how a simple enclosure can make a world of difference in your Meshtastic and LoRa endeavors.
#3dprinting #maker #lora #cad #design #tech #prusa #fusion360 #meshtastic #cyberdeck #lilygo #tdeck 
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Such a great case!
Not trying to be weird, but it's cool to see a girl involved in the community pumping out great content and really rad support for the meshtastic community, sincerely thanks for sharing your skills and time with us,
Just printed my case, thank you and I Love the music!!
I'm glad you like it, thanks for watching!
Me too, the design is pretty detailed, a lot of engineering was put in it!
There’s more to come!
Thank you so much for your beautiful and functional designs. I am an aerospace design engineer for a sub contractor of Boeing. Your talent is light years ahead of the design teams at Boeing. Please keep going with your Modeling. Some one will snap you up, if they haven't already. Thanks again.
Thank you very much for the compliments! I would love to work in the field. Maybe someday.
Your case is sooo much cleaner & sleeker looking than all the other T deck cases Ive seen everyone else using.
Its also cool that it fits back in the factory case for storage
Thanks for watching! I hoped someone would appreciate that it fit in the case!
Awesome designed case, it just fits and works. You gave some serious tought how you did it so that it could print beautiful without supports.
Thank you! I like to avoid supports as much as possible.
What a beautiful case, thank you!
I'm glad you like it, and thank you for watching!
Very impressive.
Well this just solidified it. My first Mesh setup is gonna be a T deck with this case. That's fantastic.
I really like the idea of having a bunch of regular nodes placed around town, and use the T-Deck as your interface.
@randomalleycat I think to start I'll have this, then build a home setup that I can eventually use to help jump start the hobby in my area. I feel like too this is the most fantastic setup to give as a gift to others to get them addicted.
It’s definitely a nice little self contained device to get people started!
I have to say that I love your design. I'm a professional mechanical designer myself and really enjoyed printing your LilyGo T-Beam Supreme Case. It's rugged and very useful. This case I'm looking forward to printing and I was able to find the battery. I read the comments below and look forward to your revisions if there are any. Congratulations on another wonderful design. If one were to want to add a GPS module would the module fit in this design?
Thank you for the great feedback! I'm designing a larger back cover now that will allow you to fit pretty much anything you want in there. Don't tell anyone, but I'm actually designing a GPS module now that should fit perfectly, it will just need a little soldering.
I just posted a new version that has a space for a GPS antenna!
Thank so much for you sharing your design with us. I have several different GPS modules that I'll look at. I have to decide which one fits. Also I will probably add a switch so that I can turn the GPS off. Again, thanks so much for your contributions.
If you don't mind me asking, what do you model in?
@@planetowens Definitely let me know if you have any other feedback. I use Fusion 360. I'm in the Meshtastic Discord regularly if you want to chat there.
Thank you! :-)
that is an absolute monster battery for that, so jealous! I just have a little 3000 in one of the snap-together cases, and I figure i'll just have to use a battery pack if I want more juice.
Love your case design. Fit and finish is definitely the best available.
Been experimenting with Qi Wireless charging, embedded coil, and circuit board in one of your larger case backs, unfortunately, the supplied circuit boards overheat in the enclosed case and fail quite quickly. Been purchasing components on Amazon and have not yet found a reliable source. Have you tried Qi Wireless charging yet?
I have not tried, but I wonder if you could add a small fan into the charging base that comes on when charging. Only problem is that would have you stuck using that charger only. Possibly a fan in the case itself, but that would take up space and take longer to charge.
Printing the basic one now, and have already sliced a thin front case with a back, and because I missed it the first time through, power switches for both, and a sma plug for the basic front. Now to consider larger batteries, think about adding the gps (which will involve printing new tops, and all those wonderful ideas. ..
Thinking that a simple belt clip could be built that would screw in to the holes the back is attached with, using m3x12 or so screws, but to protect the keyboard and screen, a belt case that puts those on the body side would be better.
I was actually thinking about making a cover kinda like some calculators have, where it slides in, and then there can be a belt clip on it. I guess it would be like some old pagers too. I'll see what I can do in CAD. Thanks for the idea!
@@randomalleycatYep. Wide enough of an opening at the bottom that you can charge it overnight without taking it out of the slip cover, and otherwise just wrapping around enough of the rest of the bottom and the sides to hold it in place. There's enough of a lip below the keyboard on the front, that a small tension bar could hold the existing case in place through say having to run down the block to respond to an incident, yet be easy enough to slip past to unholster the device. Possible options to hold it at 45 degree angles for left or right hip belt clips. But I'm sure you'll have a bunch of other ideas. Hmm... lanyard ring on the back plate near the bottom might not be a bad idea... :-)
And printing the second one starting now. It got pushed back because we had to replace a toilet that was leaking from the bolt seals holding the tank to the bowl, and replacing it seemed the better option.
Oh, this is the slim one, so probably need to consider that for the cover.
@@RNMSC I think I'll start with a cover for the slim one and then I'll modify it for the standard and fat ones.
do you have a like a complete list of what you used of parts, i am planing to get 2 of those.
Check out the link to Printables in the description, it should have what you need, let me know if there's anything that isn't on there though.
Hello Alley Cat! Could you make an optional front case that has a strip covering the touch ball and the transparent space between screen and keyboard?
I have another idea; a fancy flip cover for the screen and keyboard to prevent accidental messages. A simpler aproach would be a holster with many tactical attachment points for backpack straps, belts etc.
I am working on a cover/holster but I’ll take a look at making a strip across the front too.
New front with the trackball covered is up on Printables. Just make sure you update the firmware before you install it because you have to hold down the ball when you power on to enter update mode.
Very cool. Silly question, can this device SSH into a server?
That’s actually a great question. With the firmware I’m using it can’t, but I have seen some firmwares that can do VNC, so I’m sure it would be possible to make a terminal for SSH. Unfortunately I don’t have the programming skills to make it happen, but if you google “t-deck ssh” maybe there is already something out there.
Can we buy one from you? I am very interested in getting into LORA but don't want to use cell phone so this model intrigues me. However, I am a homesteader and not tech savvy. Would love it if there were stores that sold a few basic options already put together.
Not yet unfortunately, but maybe if I get some time I can get some printed out to sell to people.
@@randomalleycat This concept is wonderful but if the developers want more adoption, people like me need a little help making buying the equipment easier. We don't have printers. Afraid to buy the T Deck until I confirm I will be able to buy what I need. Thank you very much for getting back to me!
@@mnj5089 I totally agree, and even the software and hardware developers who like to get these development platforms knowing that they aren't "finished" products, still don't all have 3d printers as well. Lilygo has a design that seems like it's meant to be injection molded, they just haven't made it yet.
Great design! just printed one out and I am impressed. On the GPS one, what GPS antenna did you design it to use?
The GPS antenna that came with my RAK GPS, as well as the one from the T-Beam Supreme fit in there perfectly. The space is just over 16x16x7.
Brilliant design. This is by far the best fitting case for T-Deck!
Love your choice of PETG filament. Different White I've never seen before. What is your source for this white filament?
Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching! I pretty much only use PETG these days. The filament is from Overture and it called Rock or Marble. I really like that Overture uses cardboard for the spools instead of plastic, and I save all the PETG scraps to send in to get recycled to new filament.
Looks awesome! I would suggest knocking down the volume on the music though.
Thanks for the feedback! I kinda rushed this one out so overall it's not as good as I wanted it to be.
What battery is this? I can’t find a 8000mah with a 1.25 connector anywhere
I'm using a 126090 I got from Amazon, but I had to adapt the connector using the pigtail that came with the T-Deck. I couldn't find any that had the correct connector either.
@@randomalleycat oh good! I just got two batteries of the same dimensions with 2.0mm connectors so I’ll swap those over, thanks!
Great video! I am new to this and want to sue an external antenna, just like you have in the video. Can you point me in the right direction to buy that SMA 4" pigtail connector? Thanks!
Great question! There are a lot of places to get them from depending on where you're located for what will be able to ship to you, but here is a good example of the correct name and what the connectors look like: www.adafruit.com/product/851
How is the battery re-charged?
It will charge internally when you plug in the USB C port on the bottom just like a cell phone.
Wow. Which battery is that?? Any suggestions on where to source it?
I got them from Amazon, if you go to the Printables link in the description there are links to the batteries I bought. Thanks for watching!
@@randomalleycat ah I see it now. Thank you so much for your hard work. I really appreciate the info and it’s a great 3d model/case. Best, most professional looking one out there.
@@chuck80y Thank you for the compliments. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see me design, I really enjoy doing CAD!
Can I buy this ? If so -- how and where ? Very nice design
Hopefully I will be able to offer them for sale soon, but I have a lot of projects going at the moment unfortunately.
Someone is selling this on Etsy now for a pretty good price and their print quality is really good from what I've seen.
goodsbypratik.etsy.com/listing/1678786898/modular-lilygo-t-deck-case-with-screws
Yep. I have asked the seller on Etsy if he can consider shipping to the Nordics :)
Could you design a back cover that can accomodate 3 pieces 18650 cells?
For sure! The tricky part is accounting for whether someone is wanting to use a particular battery holder and making sure there’s room to accommodate that, but I’ll work on it today!
@@randomalleycat i can spot weld batteries, and holders are not necessary for me, but I see benefits in using holders. If the main case part would be a bit wider, there could be space for five 18650 cells stacked horizontally, but I haven't actually measured the side to side inside width. Your case design is superb! So simple and elegant.
Ok, I uploaded a fat back cover to Printables that can probably fit 3 21700s or 5 18650s.
Thanks! I printed it and it's a perfect fit! I'll have a monster 15000 mAh battery in it (5 pcs 18650 cells)
Your clearly an excellent videographer. I'm interested in diving into LORA. I do wish you could add a personal presence but I can respect anonymity. I enjoyed your HT videos, am going to grab a Quanshang to play with firmware. I hope you can grow your channel as its fascinating. Drop me a note if you can.
KD9UQE
Thank you for the great feedback. I do want to get more “personal” in my videos, I’m just very introverted and have low self-confidence in my on-screen presence. I really want to though, so I will probably try to ease into it over time.
I’m not super concerned with making a big channel, but I like to make videos, so I’m definitely not going to stop.
I was actually thinking about making a quick video showing how easy it is to change the firmware on the Quansheng. I still need to get my ham license too!