10 inch rack 1U 3xRPI mount (Pimoroni NVME + RPI5 + PoE Hat F)

10-Inch Rack RPi "Blade" System (RPi 5 / NVMe / PoE+)

There are countless Raspberry Pi rack mounts online, but when I couldn't find a solution for my specific stack of HATs and hardware, I followed the maker’s credo: If you can't find it, build it. :)

This modular system was specifically designed to integrate my Home Assistant hardware setup into the excellent Labrax 10-inch rack ecosystem. While optimized for a "beefy" RPi 5 stack, I’ve included options for RPi 4 and general-purpose mounting to ensure no 1U space goes to waste.

🧱 The Foundation: The Baseplate

Note: The Baseplate model is required for all configurations. It serves as the 1U chassis that mounts directly to your rack and provides the three slots where your RPi "Blades" will slide in.

• Capacity: Up to 3 RPi Blades.

• Rack Mounting: The baseplate is secured to the 10-inch rack using up to 6x M6 bolts.

🛠 The "Blade" Design

Each Raspberry Pi is mounted to a two-part carrier (a "Blade") that slides into the baseplate.

• Blade Assembly: The "RPI Blade" is printed in two parts and fastened together using 2x M3 nuts and 2x M3x12mm bolts.

• Blade to Baseplate: Once assembled, the blade is fastened to the 1U baseplate using 4x M3 nuts and 4x M3x12mm bolts.

📦 Supported Configurations

1. The "Main" Stack (RPi 5 + NVMe + PoE)

• Hardware: RPi 5 + Pimoroni NVME Base + Waveshare PoE HAT (F).

• Required Prints: RPi5 Faceplate + RPi5 NVME Base Bracket.

• Assembly: Uses the 7mm standoffs provided with the Pimoroni NVMe base. No additional hardware is required to secure the Pi to the bracket.

• Note: Also fits RPi 5 + NVMe base WITHOUT the PoE hat. In this case, I recommend connecting the power cable after sliding the blade into the baseplate, otherwise it will not fit.

2. The RPi 4 Stack

• Hardware: RPi 4 + Waveshare PoE HAT (B).

• Required Prints: RPi4 Faceplate + RPi4 PoE HAT B Bracket.

• Assembly: I used M2.5x10mm PH bolts here, as the original bolts provided with the PoE HAT were too short to reach through the bracket.

3. General / Universal Configuration

• Hardware: Standard RPi 4 or 5 (with or without various HATs).

• Required Prints: General Bracket + RPi4/5 Faceplate.

• Pro Tip: The bracket thickness is 7mm and the RPi PCB is 1.6mm. Use these measurements to select the correct bolt length for your specific setup. I recommend at least 10 mm  long M2.5 bolts for this purpose.

4. Filler Panels

If you aren't using all three slots, use the Vent Faceplate or Blank Faceplate models to keep your rack looking clean and maintain desired airflow.

🔩 Hardware Summary (BOM)

PS: The description was polished with AI as I am not very good at writing posts, but the model was created without any AI interaction.