reuse your mainboard - 3d printed case w/ battery (server with ups built in!)
makerworld.com
Like many others, I upgraded the mainboard on my FW13 laptop that I bought almost 18 months ago. With a spare mainboard and now a spare battery, i wanted to add this to my homelab. Framework has a nice case for sale on thier site - Framework | Cooler Master Mainboard Case and Mainboard (11th Gen and also published a printable case on github Framework-Laptop-13/Mainboard/Printable Case at main · FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13. I also found an excellent mod for the printable framework case that adds the battery. This made it possible for the framework to have a built-in UPS as a server! However, i didn't want to use any of the expansion cards or the wifi card. Furthermore, a server wouldn't need speakers. So I took the battery moded version, and cut it down - filled up the holes, made it one-piece instead of many, and now, I have a compact case for a FW13 mainboard that has space for a battery and is just 3 layers. The total thickness of the case is 24.5mm, and my 11th gen intel only draws 5w at idle - not bad for a full x86 server! I included an optional case stand in the 3mf file as well - standing upright is supposed to improve the thermals.
oh, please print this in PETG (PLA would sag after time), also i printed this in 0.24 on the X2D and also 0.28 on the P1S, both worked fine. This “just” fits on the build plate on both printers. Assembly is - press in the pegs into the mainboard tray, install the battery in the battery tray - screw the (captive screw) battery in to secure it, install the mainboard on the mainboard trays, then snap the battery tray to the mainboard tray, connect the battery to the mainboard, and finally snap on the cover.
reminder - do not switch the mainboard to run in standalone mode in BIOS. For my 11th gen, I did set my battery to never charge beyond 60%, as it will primarily be a backup battery, and I believe 100% charge will eventually swell the battery if it's on AC all the time.
Enjoy!!
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reuse your mainboard - 3d printed case w/ battery (server with ups built in!) makerworld.com Like many others, I upgraded the mainboard on my FW13 laptop that I bought almost 18 months ago. With a spare mainboard and now a spare battery, i wanted to add this to my homelab. Framework has a nice case for sale on thier site - Framework | Cooler Master Mainboard Case and Mainboard (11th Gen and also published a printable case on github Framework-Laptop-13/Mainboard/Printable Case at main · FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13. I also found an excellent mod for the printable framework case that adds the battery. This made it possible for the framework to have a built-in UPS as a server! However, i didn't want to use any of the expansion cards or the wifi card. Furthermore, a server wouldn't need speakers. So I took the battery moded version, and cut it down - filled up the holes, made it one-piece instead of many, and now, I have a compact case for a FW13 mainboard that has space for a battery and is just 3 layers. The total thickness of the case is 24.5mm, and my 11th gen intel only draws 5w at idle - not bad for a full x86 server! I included an optional case stand in the 3mf file as well - standing upright is supposed to improve the thermals. oh, please print this in PETG (PLA would sag after time), also i printed this in 0.24 on the X2D and also 0.28 on the P1S, both worked fine. This “just” fits on the build plate on both printers. Assembly is - press in the pegs into the mainboard tray, install the battery in the battery tray - screw the (captive screw) battery in to secure it, install the mainboard on the mainboard trays, then snap the battery tray to the mainboard tray, connect the battery to the mainboard, and finally snap on the cover. reminder - do not switch the mainboard to run in standalone mode in BIOS. For my 11th gen, I did set my battery to never charge beyond 60%, as it will primarily be a backup battery, and I believe 100% charge will eventually swell the battery if it's on AC all the time. Enjoy!!