5 Raspberry Pi-powered 3D printing projects to try this weekend (April 10
You have a 3D printer, a spare Raspberry Pi, and a weekend to burn. It’s time to combine these three ingredients and get started on some fun projects, or at least get inspired to create your own project.
This week, it’s all about the full Raspberry Pi, not the Pico or Pi Zero.
TVArgenta Retro TV Experience
Nostalgia on demand
TVArgenta is a nostalgia-filled retro TV experience from Ricardo Sappia, an Argentinian creator who has written extensively about his project on Hackster.io. Having left his native country, Ricardo craved a taste of home to remind him of his childhood, and what better way to scratch that itch than with a project that airs old Argentinian commercials from the 90s?
Luckily, you don’t have to be from South America to appreciate this. The bones of the project consist of a Raspberry Pi, user-friendly software that streams videos offline, and a 3D-printed shell that looks like an old CRT TV. The TV even includes an on-screen display and a static buzz as you flip through channels using a rotating dial.
You can download the 3MF files from MakerWorld and grab the project source code from GitHub. You’ll need to provide a few extra parts, including the screen, after which you can fill your SD card with your favorite commercials (or TV shows, or whatever you want). The project reminds me a lot of FieldStation42, an old cable TV simulator (and there’s no reason you can’t run it either).
A Cyberdeck
1337 hacking skills not included
The cyberdeck originated in cyberpunk fiction as a portable, rugged, and versatile terminal carried by hackers and used to interact with (and disrupt) the digital world around them. They traditionally used CRT displays, small keyboards and often folded (sometimes in a free-standing case).
The concept of building your own cyberdeck is not new, especially since small, energy-efficient computers like the Raspberry Pi are now commonplace. Building cyberdecks is just another hobby enjoyed by many tech enthusiasts, and it’s more accessible than ever, considering what’s possible with spare parts and battery power.
Not all cyberdecks are powered by the Raspberry Pi, but a large number are. Not all are fully 3D printed either, but a printer is often required for assembly (and can be used to create the case entirely from scratch). Take a look at the r/cyberDeck subreddit as well as the cyberdeck projects featured by Hackaday for inspiration. The example above is Tom Mladenov’s Raspberry Pi SDR Cyberdeck.
Ntron arcade machine and chiptune synthesizer
Create and play
The Ntron is both a retro gaming console and a chiptune synthesizer from MakerWorld user Artifextron, capable of switching between the two with a single click. Powered by a Raspberry Pi 3B+, the unit runs on retro gaming Linux distribution RetroPie and uses a 7-inch OLED display. It’s even compatible with an original NES controller, if you want.
This is undoubtedly an in-depth and complex build, and it will teach you a lot about 3D printing, finishing models with sanding and priming, and reusing old electronics (like a keyboard) in new projects. While the choice of finish and color is ultimately up to you, it looks particularly striking in two-tone gray and black with red accents.
If you like the look of this project, you might also want to check out the Ntron Type 2 from the same creator. It’s described as “the darker, weirder, lilac-toned brother of the original Ntron” and features a KORG Monotron synthesizer and PO-20 sequencer.
Astro Pi Mark II flight case
Pi in the sky
3D printed Raspberry Pi cases are cool, but generally nothing fancy. The Astro Pi Mark II flight case is different. This is a replica of the Astro Pi used aboard the International Space Station to monitor conditions and perform tests. This is a collaboration between the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Space Education Resource Offices (ESERO).
To build your own case, you’ll need a Raspberry Pi 4, a high-quality camera module, the Sense HAT add-on board, and additional parts like buttons, infrared sensors, screws, jumper cables, heat shrink tubing, and more. A full parts list is included in the guide, along with assembly instructions.
Of course, you’ll also need a 3D printer to make the case, with the final choice of color and material up to you (PLA works great).
A retro mini case for desktop PCs
The heyday of 90s computing in the palm of your hand
If you remember the full-size desktops of the ’90s, it’s dizzying to think how far we’ve come. A small single-board computer like the Raspberry Pi can do more than the beige monoliths of the past, and even emulate the software they relied on without breaking a sweat.
What better way to pay homage to the past than with a retro desktop PC containing a Raspberry Pi 4B, a 3.5-inch LCD screen, and a functional “floppy” port for the SD card? The project is the work of Printables user Fantasticmrdavid, and it has seen several updates and revisions since its release in early 2024.
The project depends on another software guide to get DOSBox up and running. From there, you can install any DOS-compatible form of Windows like 3.1, 95, and 98SE. I’d be tempted to go straight to DOSBian if you’re considering building this one.
Do you like to combine your 3D printer with computers and microcontrollers? Also check out these ESP32-based projects!
