Picocalc Case for swapping microcontrollers

Hi, is there anywhere to buy a picocalc case to swap controller without disassembling? I saw some users on this community have a custom case for achieving that, but I assume it was self 3d printed

Front covers too !.

Would be very welcome, especially if you could choose the colour and type (shiny clear). I tried a local UK printer who seemed very interested but then went quiet on me :expressionless_face:

I’d like a new front too, holes for the speakers maybe, definitely no border round the keys so the function keys could be easily labelled. Hmmm would a clear front show the key leds shining round the outside ?.

Clear is tricky for a lot of 3D printers. I’ve printed a few of the picocalc backs and covers (just in black) and while they are not impossible to print, there is some trick to getting them to print reliably, and with the right tolerances (and not look like crap).

I don’t have a large-format SLA printer, but I imagine that might garner the best results.

For reference, this was printed on a Prusa MINI:

It came out decent… but I would be conflicted shipping this level of quality to a paying customer.

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Wonder how this was printed…

That’s a rendering. It’s so realistic these days. :grin:

You may be able to get a decent print similar to this by using a service like https://jlc3dp.com/

They have a clear SLA options with oiled finish to help clarity. I personally have never ordered from them, but YouTubers use them constantly. I’ve heard decent things.

Like so: https://youtu.be/z3x-_-5T9DQ?si=FxA473IsdQZphMNh&t=289

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So basically you upload the .stl file, they 3d-print it and then ship to you?

Hello,
I recently had the JLC3DP 3D printing service try out the modified data (STL) for the back cover of PicoCalc.

The photo below shows the result.


The materials are both resin (8001 resin) and translucent.
The cost was US$6 for the back cover and US$1 for the battery cover, but shipping cost was about US$14.
Shipping costs will be more expensive depending on the country and region.

8001 resin has little shrinkage and produces a good finish.
Of course, it is important to have a set of small model files to finish the details.

As you can see from the photos attached below, the finished product is good.
The cover for PicoCalc can be attached properly.
(I probably didn’t need to order the battery cover.)


If there is a problem, it is that 3D printing services are a kind of gamble.
This means that even if the data is something you created (or modified) yourself, there is no guarantee that the finished product will be perfect.
Of course, it will usually work out well, but depending on the material being printed, the fit dimensions and shrinkage may result in a finished product that the designer did not intend.

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Wouldn’t a longer access plate allow safer core removal though (like this)…

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I think the result is very nice.

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