Raspberry Pi 5 NAS for 3.5 HDDs

Now, bringing to MakerWorld this NAS enclosure for 3.5 hard drives using the new 8-GB version of the Raspberry Pi 5 with the Radxa Penta board and top hat with Noctua Fans!

This enclosure was designed to be used with 3.5 hard drives while keeping a low profile and having quick-swappable hard drives.

NOTE: For a 2.5-inch drive version of this NAS Pi, check out the model by WikiZell here: https://makerworld.com/en/models/507716#profileId-423445

--------------------------------------------Update! 28/12/2024--------------------------------------------

Added a fourth print profile! This fourth profile has 6 different plates for spacers on the SATA Connectors. If the connectors you bought do not reach the SATA port on the hard drives, simply print the needed spacers from this profile. Each plate has a different thickness from 0.5 mm, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm & 5 mm. Alternatively, you can only scale the spacer on the Z-Axis to achieve the needed thickness.

--------------------------------------------Update! 18/12/2024--------------------------------------------

Added a third print profile! This third profile adds compatibility for the RPi 3 & 4 models. Everything needed is in the profile. If you have already printed the RPi 5 version, you can hand cut the opening for the HDMI and Audio jack a bit, or you can print the large side plate on this third profile! As you can see from the picture below, the opening is a bit bigger to fit the old-style connectors. The same works for RPi 4

--------------------------------------------Update! 14/12/2024--------------------------------------------

Added a second print profile! This second print profile has alternative models that will allow you to:

- Remove the front Top Board (seen in the images with a small fan and display in the front panel), this model has cutouts for airflow but removes the front panel altogether. - Modify the base, top plate, and rear plate to accommodate a single 8025 5v Fan! The original uses Qty 2 - 8025 5v fans, this was done since my NAS is placed in a small room where I needed to maximize airflow to the HDDs, alternatively, if YOU only need to use a single fan, you can definitely do so! - Check out this dust filter for the rear fans! - PC Fan Dust Filter See the following list for the parts needed.

Qty Linked Parts Cost per item (as per December - 24')

1 Raspberry Pi 5 (can be the 8 or 4 gb model) $59.99 - $79.99 ea

1 Radxa Penta SATA HAT $49.99 ea

1 Radxa Penta SATA HAT Top Board (Optional) $9.99 ea (Optional)

1 Radxa Power Adapter DC12 60W $11.99 ea

2 Noctua NF-A8 5V, Premium Quiet Fan with USB Power Adaptor Cable, 3-Pin, 5V Version (80mm, Brown) $16.99 ea - can buy cheaper ones from Aliexpress

4 CableCreation 2-Pack SATA 22Pin (7+15 Pin) Male to SATA 22 Pin (7+15Pin) Female Adapter Converter, SATA Male to Female Adapter $9.99 for 2

4 4PCS 50cm SATA 22 Pin Female to SATA(7+15) Pin Male Data Power Combo Extension Cable $9.99 for 4

4 Western Digital 4TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" -WD40EFPX $83.70 ea - can buy cheaper ones

1 Kingston 240GB A400 SATA 3 2.5" Internal SSD SA400S37/240G (Optional) $24.99 (optional) - only needed for running backup software

1 Pitch Female Socket Terminal Plug Wire Connector SH 1mm 2pin (Optional) $0.73 (optional) - to connect aliexpress or other fans

1 Gigabit Ethernet Elbow 90° Network Cable RJ45 Male to Female Screw Hole Extension Cable for Broadband Computer Router CAT6 30cm $3.11

8 M3 Socket Head Shoulder Machine Screws (SHSS) $1

8 M2.5x4x4 Round Threaded Brass Heat-Insert Nut (20PCS) - AB011 $1

8 M2.5x8 FHCS Machine Screw (20PCS) - AA079 or

M2.5x10 FHCS Machine Screw (20PCS) - AA184

$1.36

2 Dust Filter for 80mm fan $1.25

Final Assembly Cost (with 4gb RPi 5 & 8gb RPi 5) $506.23 - $526.23

Final Assembly Cost (with optional hardware & 8gb RPi 5 ) $561.94

Instructions

First step, is to address the design flaw on the Penta SATA Hat when using the Pi active cooler. The heatsink interferes with the 5.5 mm barrel jack on the SATA hat, you must cut the three fins on the active cooler with some flush cutters so that the Pi with active cooler can be used and mounted directly to the SATA Hat. This does not affect cooling at all and won't damage the Pi nor the active cooler.

Mount the raspberry pi with the penta SATA hat. Use M2.5 X 8mm countersunk screws (if possible) to secure it from underneath.

Insert the Qty 8 M2.5 Heat-inserts on the front and back of the base and on the top panel.

Mount the 22 pin SATA Adapaters to the back of the tower, pay attention to the orientation, use a HDD to ensure its facing the correct way. Secure the M3 bolts with a nut underneath.

For the bottom adapter, install it facing either up or from underneath (cutouts on the base for a countersunk screw, this is optional)

Mount both fans, here I'm using 5v 8025 noctua fans, these come with a USB adapter that will be used to power the fans, mounting these it's a tricky, the rubber anti-vibration edges makes the fitment tight. I recommend bolting the top and bottom first and pushing both fans down in the middle, then bolting those at the end.

Install both spacers, these have a “loose fit" which can be left as is. If you want you can add a bit of superglue on each side where they make contact with the cutouts, it is not needed but will make things easier if you''re flipping the case upside down during the assembly process.

This step is optional

Mount the Penta SATA Hat Top Board to the front Panel. using 4 M3x10 screws with nuts on the back and connect the power connector that ties to the Penta SATA hat