Case for RAK WisMesh 1W Booster Starter Kit + USB-C Power Board

This is a basic enclosure for a RAK WisMesh 1W Booster Starter Kit plus a small USB-C power delivery board.

A few RAK 1W cases exist on Printables but of the ones that connect to external 5V power, which is required for full transmit power for this kit if you're not using a battery, none of them that I saw do so as cleanly as I would like. So, in addition to the RAK 1W kit, this enclosure also has room for a separate USB-C power delivery board. This makes it so you can power your RAK 1W easily with USB-C.

This case does not have room for a battery, because I don't need one in my application. This is also part of the reason why I needed the USB-C PD board.

Two variants of the lid are included - one with the Meshtastic "M-PWRD" logo on it, and one without.

Two variants of the main case are included - one with a little slot intended for the flat BLE antenna that comes with the RAK 1W, and one without.

I used jm3000's RAK 1W mounting plate template as the basis for this design. It was very helpful.

List of materials

• RAK WisMesh 1W Booster Starter Kit

• 20mm x 30mm USB-C power delivery board capable of doing 5V output - I used this specific product on AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808473992694.html

• 4x 6mm M3 socket cap head screws

• 4x 6mm-8mm M2 socket cap head screws

Printing notes

Printing should be pretty easy. Print the parts in the orientations given in the model files. You will want to let your slicer put automatic supports wherever it wants. Probably in the screw holes. I printed mine in PLA, 0.2mm layer height, with 20% gyroid infill.

Assembly

This enclosure was designed with the specific USB-C PD board linked above in mind. Others may not fit.

• Print all three parts (pick one of the lids and one of the cases)

• Set the voltage on the USB-C PD board to 5V

• Set the power jumper on the RAK 1W to external

• Solder the power leads that connect to the RAK to the PD board. Be sure to solder them oriented similarly to how I have them shown in the picture.

• Fit the USB-C PD board into the power board bracket. It should be a snug fit.

• Screw the power board bracket onto the underside of the case lid using 4x M2 6mm-8mm socket cap head screws

• Fit the RAK 1W into the case, USB port first, and screw it down.

• Hook up and install both antennas - BLE and LoRa

• Put the lid on and close it up with 4x M3 6mm socket cap head screws