3D Printable Open Frame PC Case - Mounting an ITX Build

Looking to save space on your new PC build, or have extra parts you want to repurpose for a server, productivity station, or home theater? With the Platform:4 and Platform:6 pegboards, you can easily achieve this using our DIY-ready, printable designs! See an overview of all our Printables here, as well as the accessories that are compatible. Our example builds:

• Black Platform:6 Pegboard PC Build
• Minimalist Platform:4 Side Pegboard Build
• White Platform:4 Pegboard PC Build
• Black Platform:4 Open Frame PC Build

• One of the following: Platform:4 Multiframe Pegboard, Platform:6 Multiframe Pegboard, or Platform:4 / Platform:6 Side Pegboard as they are constructed with an appropriate metal structure
• ITX Motherboard Mount - full single print (requires a 3D printer that can support 201x201x20, such as the PRUSA XL)
• GPU Mount - dual slot GPUs only, GPU support (recommended for larger GPUs)
• PSU Mount (ATX, SHIFT 180mm length, SHIFT 200mm length, or SFF)
• Radiator/Fan Mount(s) - 360mm, 240mm or 120mm mounts (x2 per fan/120mm radiator)
• M6 hardware (10mm, 12mm, or 14mm length required) - securing component mounts to pegboard (examples - Philips, Bolts)
• M4 hardware (washers, 18mm and 20mm length required) - GPU bracket, PSU mount (examples - Philips, Hex)
• M3 hardware (washers, 8mm - 14mm length, and 20mm required) - motherboard mount, GPU installation (examples - Philips, Hex)
• Power Switch - we used a keyboard switch as our power switch for the PC, which we were able to customize with a MX-compatible key cap (example)

Our in-house prints were created with PLA material. For all of our designs, it's important to account for the following:

• Set the perimeter to "3" - ensures the prints have sufficient structural integrity to support your components

• Where necessary, enable supports with the style being organic. This primarily applies to the radiator, fan, and PSU mounts. Make sure to include a support blocker wherever screws/bolts will be installed.

• Ensure the prints are performed on the proper faces where the prints will have the most contact with the printing surface area. This helps ensure the print does not deform during the process - otherwise you would waste filament on a whole motherboard tray. Examples:

We'll start the setup with installing the bracket for the motherboard's rear I/O and GPU mounting. Accessing the inserts for installing this bracket will not be possible once the motherboard tray is mounted to the pegboard.

1. Insert two M4 nuts into the left side of the GPU bracket and two M3 nuts into the right side. Doing so may require some assistance from a pair of pliers due to nuts varying in thickness.
2. Mount the bracket to the motherboard tray with two M4x16 screws.

Now, we'll install your motherboard onto the 3D printed tray.

1. Install the M6 nuts onto the front of the tray, as they would be difficult to insert after installing the motherboard.

2. On the back of the motherboard tray, insert M3 nuts. If you are having trouble with the M3 nuts staying put, it would help to pre-install M3 screws to fully leverage them into their slots, then remove the pre-installed screws/bolts for motherboard installation. If you see webbing inside the M3 holes, do not be alarmed, as that is intended - hardware should be able to push right through.

3. After preparing your motherboard with the CPU, M.2 SSD, RAM, and CPU cooler backplate (if applicable), use M3x20 screws to secure the motherboard to the tray. Using M3x25 or longer is not recommended as the hardware would protrude past the motherboard tray and collide with the pegboard. Fully leveraging the M3 nuts into their insertions may also be a required step if the M3x20 hardware is not reaching the nuts when mounting the motherboard to the tray.

1. Insert the M6 nuts into the PSU mount, as you won't be able to access them after installing the PSU.
2. Secure the PSU to the mount with M4x10 screws + washers. If you happen to have any of the short radiator screws that come included with our AIOs, those will also work perfectly (just make sure not to use the long radiator screws meant for mounting fans).

1. Install the M6 nuts onto the radiator mounts
2. Install the AIO radiator using the washers + M4x10 screws, or the short radiator screws that come included with AIOs/radiators.

Note: If you are planning to use an air cooler for your CPU, you may skip this step and install your air cooler as normal.

These component mounts give you complete flexibility to position your hardware exactly where you want. For the first step, we recommend planning and testing your component layout beforehand especially ensuring there’s adequate spacing between components. Remember to factor in cabling for your PSU, USB devices, DisplayPort, HDMI, and other connections. Avoid installing components too close to obstacles, such as placing the motherboard’s rear IO near the Platform desk rails, to prevent obstruction.

Now that you've figured out the layout, use M6 hardware to secure the component mounts to the pegboard. Based on our builds, the safe lengths are M6x10, M6x10, and M6x14.

• Motherboard mount - 4 bolts/screws
• PSU mount - 4 bolts/screws
• Radiator mount - 4 bolts/screws

We suggest mounting everything with the pegboard(s) on a flat surface, rather than mounting everything while the pegboard is installed. No need to make life more difficult with falling components and combating gravity.

Once everything is mounted, you'll want to install all the power cables you'd need, as well as any accessories such as RGB light strips or iCUE Link Hub. The GPU is the last component to be installed. When mounting the GPU bracket, you will utilize M3 hardware (recommended 10-14mm length) + washers. If you have a beefy GPU that would require some additional support, please consider our GPU support printable as well.

With everything mounted and connected, the last part(s) you'll need to worry about are the power switch and other printable accessories. The power switch will connect to your motherboard's front I/O header as usual, but if you forgot to get a power switch, you may also turn the computer on if there's a power button on the motherboard, or by shorting the PWR BUTTON (+) and PWR BUTTON (-) headers with a metal object (such as a screwdriver head). Please refer to your motherboard manual to make sure you short the correct pins.

After mounting your pegboard PC back onto your Platform:4/6 desk, make sure to properly secure it! If you have any questions or feedback regarding the pegboard build, feel free to reach out on our Reddit or Discord!