Design a awesome SteemPi TV-Box side panel, in 2D or 3D, and contribute it through Utopian!

With the files that are included with this post it is now possible for every designer to make a Side Panel for the SteemPi open source TV-Box project. You can contribute your 2D and 3D designed side panels through Utopian.

It would be very nice and interesting to see what other people can make, and come up with!

Introduction

SteemPi is a Tv-Box Software that connects with the Steem blockchain and brings Steem related content, entertainment and much more to your TV or (spare) monitor. The SteemPi Software runs on inexpensive single board computers such as the Raspberry Pi.

One of the more common cases for a Raspberry Pi 2/3, beside the more expansive original case is the below case, it doesn't really have a name or common model number.

It seems to be a public tooling/mold and that makes this case widely available and cheap, so far i have seen, used and send out this case in transparant, black and in white and bought them from different sources and there parts are interchangeable.

Some time ago I designed a custom side panel for this case but until today i didn't made it available for others to download, and from the start of this 3d printed side panel project, i thought about sharing the model and what others could design and can come up with.

Downloads

To get started, download the 2d or 3d source template and import them into your favorite design software.

3d file

Download 3D model .STL

View in 3D

2d file

Download 2D template .Ai, .JPG

The case that can work with this custom side panel is available in many webshops, sold separate and in Raspberry Pi starter kits as well. To contribute your work, and make a side panel it is not necessary to own this case.

Where to buy

If you would want to have this case, you could have a look at those (international) resellers:

Amazon

Walmart

Gearbest

Design a Side Panel for SteemPi, contribute it, get feedback and rewards!

If you want to contribute your awesome side panel for this common but decent case, you could download this 2d file, or this 3d file.

The 2d or 3d designs you make can be contributed to the SteemPi project through Utopian, and will be upvoted based on your efforts and design.

The best designs will be 3D printed and added to the SteemPi open source project on Github, for others to download, 3D print at home or via external 3d print services. and to improve the designs if they would want to.

I will 3D print the best designs and use it on my SteemPi Box to see how it looks and will share back the results.

Things to keep in mind when designing and contributing

• What parts do you want to keep open to let the notification lights come through ?
  (There need to be at least one hole where the 3 notification leds can shine through (Green(upvote), Blue(Comment), Purple(Not assigned yet)
• What parts, logos, lines are embossed?
• Don't make the details to tiny
• Preferably keep the design in one colour
• Try to keep in mind the print-ability, (no floating elements, a quick 2d example for this is a 2d spraypaint silhouette / template, when making those you would also need to keep in mind that the things you design need to be connected and can't be floating.
• If you design in 2d, desirable is to have a layer or export as a line-drawing.
• If you design in 2d, desirable is to have a vector exported line drawing. (.svg, .dxf, etc)
• Make it attractive, and look as a commercial product.
• If you design it in 3d, you can also think about adding textures, LED holders, Wall / TV mounts or mix it with open source 3d models.
• Optionally you could contribute not just the side panel but a full 3d printable SteemPi case, (open source Raspberry Pi case examples.)
  -Please keep in mind when designing a complete 3d case that it would be nice if the case could fit, with some alterations also other board models and brands.
• I don't want to restrict you with specific design topics, and ask for your creative magic and i'm curieus to what amazing designs people can come up with!
• When contributing to Utopian, follow the Utopian guidelines.
• Dont forget to add the steempi tag to your Utopian post because i don't want to miss it.

Optinaly, if you have a good idea and experience or intrest in 2d or 3d design, but you don't have software? You could give those Free easy to start with software a try:

• Meshmixer (3d)
  if you are interested in making your contribution in 3d, but dont know where to start, i would suggest to download Meshmixer from Autodesk. Watch/follow a few Meshmixer tutorial videos and you will be able to edit, make and improve 3d models in no time.)

• Paint.net and Gimp are both free 2D design software.

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Posted on Utopian.io - Rewarding Open Source Contributors

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