I am looking for an enclosed case for the Udoo X86 that goes around the board - not just the top and bottom acrylic plates of the official case which is nice but offers limited protection. Would need access to the ports on the front and rear, and it would be really nice if there was some kind of removable part over the Arduino pins that could be covered when not in use. I guess the heatsink could/should project through the top of the case so it can do it's job properly. Is anyone planning to make something that they could share? I bought a great case for my Udoo Quad from a member of this forum 3 years ago - see http://www.udoo.org/forum/threads/udoo-case-for-sale-soon.597/ and http://imgur.com/a/AzRcN. Something like this would be ideal. If others are interested in such a case perhaps you could add to this thread so interested can be gauged. Maybe even Udoo would like to make an alternative case if there is enough interest. Thanks.
You might contact the maker of this case to see if he is interested in crowed funding a case for the X86: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ucase-udoo-sheet-metal-case#/
Their official Shop Website is: https://ucase.odoo.com/shop I sent them an email through their Website asking about any plans for the X86. Others may want to do the same to show that there is a larger interest. BTW, my UDOO X86 is being delivered today!
I was just thinking about cases today. They have a 3D model of the udoo x86 board I was going to design a 3D printed case around. Shouldn't be too hard. Do you want access to the Arduino 101 header pins? I might do a file with and one without. Was also thing about a ducted fan blowing over the heatsink rather than straight down on it.
I think most people would want access to the Arduino headers from the outside of the case using header extenders like the case mentioned above. With respect to a fan, It's always better to draw heat away from the CPU, and not blow air across it. This can be accomplished by adding a fan above the static heat sink (air flow up) and/or providing an exhaust fan through a case vent (air flow out). IMO, the biggest challenge in designing a case is to get all the port openings to align with the mainboard and have the plugs connect securely through the case walls. Thanks, and good luck!
Personally, I prefer a metallic case, so that it might act as a shield against EMI, although I suppose it would be simple enough to line a plastic case with adhesive-backed copper foil or screen. There's a very professionally written article by the author of linrad SDR about supressing computer EMI here: http://www.sm5bsz.com/linuxdsp/hware/quietpc.htm. With a $10 RTL USB dongle http://www.ebay.com/itm/122292058960 and a copy of linrad http://www.sm5bsz.com/linuxdsp/usage/newco/newcomer.htm, you can easily create a Software Defined Radio that tunes from virtually DC to 1.7GHZ... SDR is pretty amazing technology. The entire RF spectrum is captured with an AtoD converter attached to an antenna, and software provides very sophisticated radio reception capabilities... No more Marconiesque coils and capacitors. The 21st century has revolutionized radio communications.
My experience with adhesive-backed copper foil is over time the adhesive qualities approach nil. Conductive copper floating around a powered circuit does not end well. It usually doesn't take long either! FYI
I hadn't considered that issue. Thanks for mentioning it. Perhaps conductive paint would be a superior choice for EMI shielding for a case constructed of plastic. @kindiss
