Modular PC Organizer
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I created a modular organizer that is attached to the top of a PC tower case. Allows for the organization of headphone wires, USB hubs, and other PC accessories. The concept of a modular organization system for the front panel of a PC case started with me being annoyed at the lack of cable management and being tired of my long headphone cable. I was also concerned about my USB hub just dangling without any guide or protection to prevent disconnection.
Supplies
![KobraGo_6_1800x1800.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDD/HSN0/LH4UP3IK/FDDHSN0LH4UP3IK.png&filename=KobraGo_6_1800x1800.png)
- A 3D printer with PLA filament is required.
- I used the Anycubic Kobra Go
- For the filament, I used a black PLA plus spool from INLAND
- A Resin 3D printer is optional for stronger-built modules.
- I used the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro.
- For resin, I used a white ABS-like from INLAND.
- Measuring devices.
- Dial or digital calipers
- tape measures
The Design Process
![Pc cover mod-1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUW/Q0YL/LH4UP3DZ/FUWQ0YLLH4UP3DZ.jpg&filename=Pc cover mod-1.jpg)
![PC-Peg-board-Drawing-v2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRH/904D/LH4UP3LH/FRH904DLH4UP3LH.jpg&filename=PC-Peg-board-Drawing-v2.jpg)
![USB_Holder_Mk2_2023-Apr-24_10-04-20PM-000_CustomizedView1269426450.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNV/MDUN/LH4UP3LP/FNVMDUNLH4UP3LP.png&filename=USB_Holder_Mk2_2023-Apr-24_10-04-20PM-000_CustomizedView1269426450.png)
The original concept of the modular pc organizer or MPO originally started on March 7th, 2020 as a vanity cover mod that utilized a magnetic mount in hockey puck shape mounting points welded to a front steel board. This vanity cover not only added color to the front but also hid away the cables that drooped down in front of my case. To get the dimensions of the
By mid-2022, The concept of tidying up the front panel of my PC case later evolved into a peg board system for organizing my computer accessories, wires, and USB hubs I’ve attached to the front ports of my computer. I used a Black PLA Tough for the body and modules. I’ve also renamed the project to project themes after the Greek god of Order, as in judicial order, as I was taking my Intro to Design class in the spring of 2023.
The Design Process Part 2: Revision
![PC-Front-Board-Mk3-PDF-Version.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FK3/GNQ3/LH4UP3NM/FK3GNQ3LH4UP3NM.jpg&filename=PC-Front-Board-Mk3-PDF-Version.jpg)
![PC Front Board Mk4 PDF Version.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FTZ/V948/LH4UP3NN/FTZV948LH4UP3NN.jpg&filename=PC Front Board Mk4 PDF Version.jpg)
By March of 2023, to vastly improve my design, I overhauled the system mounted on my computer and mounted the modular organizers to fit any accessory I could think of. Instead of using keyholes and pegs, I utilized rails to allow for vertical movement. As I found with the previous design, every time I would try to pull on a top-connected USB on the mounted USB hub it would lift up and detach. So I chose to go with rail to prevent this as the horizontal movement was less likely to occur when handling modules, moreover, the friction would decrease the horizontal movement. Now the system is composed of two main parts, a mount and a front plate to mount the modules. The front plate is attached and fixed to the mount that the modules and holders slide into the front rails. However, this complexity made the design no longer toolless and so I redesigned it with toplessness and simplicity in mind.
2-3 weeks later, I revised the design to be more simplistic while keeping the general design of the platform. I redesigned the mounting system but kept the rails the same. And replaced the Picatinny rails with a more 3D printer-friendly design that is easier to print and arguably stronger and easy to design around. Instead of a citing rail the front plate now uses a fixed corner and slots itself into it to the mounting base. Moreover, the front plate became much smaller but had a tighter grouping of modules allowing for 5 rails making positioning modules easier.
Design Considerations
There are a few design considerations when creating your own Modular PC Organizer, namely:
- Sizing of PC Case
- Dimensions of dongles
- Printer building platform size
- Material usage
- Resin is typically reserved for stronger parts that need it, such as hangers and spool holders.
- The thermoplastic filament is used in large structural parts, or parts that flex.
- When creating the rails
Tolerance, Clearance, and Design Errors
To account for tolerance and clearance errors I chose to either over-exaggerate a loose fit to avoid clearance errors. Meanwhile, I elected to sand and file down the mount point for the front plate to allow it to fit snugly between the mount base and the front plate. The interface between the mounting panel and the front panel needs to be a snug fit.
For tolerances mostly all tolerance is different between Printers so I designed the clearance around .02-.04 so the rails have a somewhat loose fit. Meanwhile, for the front panel to fit the mount, I kept it relatively tight with a tolerance of -.004 and +.002 and sanded down any errors.
If the fit for the mounting plate to the front panel is too loose, a wooden or 3D printed pin 1/4 in diameter could be used in order to secure the front panel.
Assembly
- Fit the front panel to the mounting panel, and sand/file down the interface if needed.
- Fit a 1/4-inch diameter pin if the front panel is too loose.
- Fit a rail module onto the front panel.
- Make adjustments to the model if does not reach clearance.
- Test the fit of each rail with the module to ensure a perfect fit on each rail.
Downloads
Download
If you do not want to go through with making the design yourself feel free to download the STLs and GCode here: