PandaBoxComputer

UPDATE: When I updated to a new printer, it became possible to print the entire width of the case on my bed, so I combined all the pieces of the lower liner and the screen holder and reprinted this (almost entirely in PETG). The computer has worked quite well in the field. During a fieldwork project this summer I ran it outside for several days in 90+f degree weather and it did well. The outdoor picture above is of the computer on site during an archaeological excavation. N.b. the legs didnt really work very well so I have tended to cut them off and just have the bottom be a friction fit with some additional hot glue. I will try to upload the newer stl files.

This is a lightweight, rugged field computer, remixed from Andrew Thaler's excellent "BeagleBox2", but based around the LattePanda SBC that runs windows 10. This has been redesigned to use the LattePanda SBC (I used the 4G/64G enterprise win version) and the 10.1" (1200x1920) Latte Panda monitor. The feet for the enclosure have been altered, and the input/output and control connections have all been modified.

My build has a power button to turn the computer on and off, a 23000mah battery than can be charged via an external plug, a case fan to try to keep the board cool, 3 external usb ports plus an additional expansion port inside AND two inside on the board (that currently hold a 128gb flash drive and wireless keyboard dongle). The Lattepanda also has built in wifi, so there is no external data port or wifi dongle. The system seems to be stable on my workshop bench. I am currently testing the battery life and preparing an external antenna mount for my telemetry receiver.

Some notes about what doesnt work with the current iteration: I tried coating the main case pieces in plasti-dip, with somewhat uneven results. The texture is nice, but I couldn't get it to coat evenly. I should have used black.

The mount posts for the SBC take m3 screws, but there isnt enough clearance once the Amazon Basics 4 port USB hub is hot glued in place under it, so I just used some spacers rather than re-printing the enclosure. I designed some feet and magnets to go inside the battery access lid to hold it in place, but haven't installed them yet. Friction fit seems to be working well enough for now, and I didnt have any button magnets handy anyway.

I would also like to thicken the vertical walls on the enclosure to make them a little stronger, if I end up printing this again. They, and the internal legs, are easy to damage before assembling the computer, but probably fine once it is all glued together and tucked inside the Pelican.

Battery Update: The 23000mah battery has been powering the computer for 3.5hours, with the screen at about 40%, while updating windows and installing ground station software. It has consumed 24% of the battery per the display on the battery. If the battery use is linear (which it probably isnt) that would be over 14 hours of battery on a single charge. Not bad. Only downside is windows doesnt get that battery data and so wont safely shut down.