Over time we’ve seen no scarcity of 3D printed instances designed to carry a number of Raspberry Pi computer systems, typically with the intent to make use of them as handy desktop-sized platforms for experimenting with ideas comparable to server load balancing and redundancy.
The rationale the Pi was all the time the star of the present is easy sufficient to elucidate: they have been small and low-cost. However whereas the Pi has solely gotten costlier over time, x86 machines have reduced in size and cheaper. Which is how a venture just like the N100 Obelisk was born.
Because the identify implies, [Jay Doscher] has packed this printed tower of energy with quite a few mini computer systems using the Intel N100 CPU, specifically the QC12 from Beelink. At $250 a pop they’re positively a costlier possibility than the Pi 5. However with every one packing 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB NVME drive, plus the choice to plug in a SATA drive, you’re getting loads of bang on your computing buck.
Every QC12 lives by itself printed “shelf” contained in the case, which is able to match as much as 5 of the machines without delay. Although [Jay] notes that warmth may turn into a difficulty at that time, so 4 looks like a safer quantity. The entrance panel of every laptop may be accessed by way of a cut-out in a single aspect of the case, whereas the rear (and all of the cables) are lined with simply detachable panels ought to it is advisable get in there and reconfigure something.
With all the things all buttoned up, it seems to be prefer it may survive a bomb blast. Contemplating it took two rolls of filament and the higher a part of 100 M4 screws to place the factor collectively, we’d wager it doesn’t simply look powerful, both. The write-up says the purpose was for the ultimate product to have a sure brutalist model, and it definitely looks like the mission was completed on that entrance.
In fact, the actually standout characteristic of the Obelisk is the built-in Waveshare AMOLED show. This 13.3 inch panel boasts a decision of 2560×1440, and even affords contact help. Right here it’s been rotated into portrait orientation to supply loads of vertical house, making it ultimate for engaged on the command line, writing code, or scrolling by way of lengthy paperwork. Don’t want a display screen? No downside — the case has been designed in such a means which you could forgo the show and fill within the opening with extra of the printed panels.
As we’ve seen with his previous projects, [Jay] has a knack for turning extruded plastic into units which are each functional and visually striking. We’re all the time excited when one among his creations come our means, and may’t wait to see what he’s acquired in retailer for the long run.
