Easy Build Raspberry PI Computer

This is my first version of the Easy Build Portable Raspberry Pi Useing technology, woodworkng and metal working skills. I hope you enjoy building it as much as I enjoyed bringing this to you.

●Rasberry Pi Computer
● SD Card with operating system of your choice
● HDMI 8” LCD Screen KIT (part number PIM372) from PIMO RONI
● 2-cables for power to Pi and screen
●Keyboard/ Mouse of your choice
●Wood 2 each: 1 3/4” X 1/4” X 6 3/4” (Box)
●Wood 2 each: 1 3/4” X 1/4” X 7 3/8” (Box)
●Wood 2 each: 1 1/4” X 3/8” X7 3/8” (Screen)
●Wood 2 each: 1 1/4” X 3/8” X 6” (Screen)
●1/4” thick wood cut the wood to 8 1/4” X 6 7/8” for top and bottom of your frame and box. (If you cannot get the 8” screen you can change the dimensions of the wood to accomodate whatever size screen you purchase)
●Assorted wood screws
●4 each nuts, washers, spacers and 10d 3” finishing nails (see step 3 for instructions for finishing nails)
●Plexiglass
●Adhesive Hook and Loop
●Table saw (follow all safety rules)

I found some of my supplies at the following:
●Chicago Electronic Distributors
Email:INFO@CHICAGODIST.COM
Twitter:@CHICAGOEDIST
Facebook.com/CHICAGODIST
●PiShop.us
●Ollies (battery)
●Five Below (Bluetooth Keyboard)

Make Frame for screen, I started with a piece of wood 1 1/4” X 3/8” X 3’ a little longer than needed. Using a table saw, I cut a dado on the face of the wood board about 3/16 "deep or about half way. The dado starts about 1/4” in from the edge of the face of the wood board (This is to hold the screen). There was no need to purchase wood for this project, I used what I had on hand, some of which, was over 100 years old.

Using the table saw, I cut 45 degree angle to frame the screen. (see supply list for cutting the wood) For my screen, I glued 1 long and two short pieces together. The last long piece I used screws to hold it in place (I did this so any future changes I wish to make would be easier to remove screen from the frame). Instead of glueing you can also use screws to hold the whole frame together. (Such as the outter box). If you cannot find the same screen that I am using, adjust your wood measurements to accommodate what you have bought.
I also cut a very small relief in the dado where the ribbon cable exits the screen. This keeps the ribbon cable from being pinched by the dado.

The outer frame is made somewhat tight around the screen frame. (See wood measurments in the supply list entitled box).I used butt joints glued and screwed it together. (The next one that I build is to have the screen so it tilts).

Assembly of the electronics. I had a jar of nuts, washers and screws. But none of the screws were not long enough, so I decided to make some that were. I used the finishing nails, and a 4-40 die cutter to cut threads to make the screws.
If you have not used a tap and die set this is a goodway to start. Cutting the threads in the nail is very easy to do , as you can see it is too long, all you need to do is cut the new screw to length using a good pair of wire cutters.
I cut a piece of plexiglass to 3” X 4 1/2” I marked and drilled holes for the screen driver board and Raspberry Pi3. I made a cut out on the plexglass to make it easy to changeout the SD card. Also needed is spacers, I made this by drilling a 1/4” wood dowel using a 3/32” drill bit, 4 spacers at 5/8” long and 4 spacers at 1/8” I cut these a tad long and sanded them to size to make them all the same length.
I used HDMI to HDMI adapter so the spacing between the two boards is 5/8”. (This is the size of the long spacers)

After Assembling Driver and Raspberry Pi and mounting these to Plexiglass (spacer screws). I added wood boards 1&2 to hold the assembly above the screen and in a position where the driver board lines up with the ribbon cable. Attach the screen cable to driver board, also put on power cable with switch to Raspberry and power cable to driver board. I added wood board #3 to hold keypad for screen then attached plexiglass with some screws.

This whole assembly fit inside the outer frame, I used hook and loop to attach top and bottom cover. Top cover when removed is used as a mouse pad. The bottom also removes with hook and loop, this makes it easy to change USB options and SD card.
This is my first version of the easy build Raspberry Pi computer. My plan for this build is for a learning computer, I have Python installed with Visual Studio.
My next project will be a gaming computer, using the same design. It will be a little bigger with a tilting screen. Raspberry Pi4 and space to store a game controller. Keep watching for more instructables for upgrading the Raspberry Pi Computer .