Building An ODROID-H2 BladeCenter: Create A Micro-footprint High Performance Computing Station

December 1, 2019 @rvalle ODROID-H2, Tinkering 0

After receiving inspiration from the excellent OpenSCAD H2 Model posted at https://forum.odroid.com/viewtopic.php?f=172&t=33824, I created a remix of the fantastic Raspberry Blade Center to house 3 ODROID-H2 units. I made the following changes to the original project:

  • Migrated the files to SolidWorks
  • Built an assembly
  • Aligned the fasteners
  • Widened the cart by 2mm so that it would remain fit in its place
  • Made pillars for PSM brass inserts by both Heatlok and Minitech

The SolidWorks files are available at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3929164.

Figure 1 - For a more realistic model, here is an assembly of the ODROID-H2 with peripherals and heat-sink on
Figure 1 - For a more realistic model, here is an assembly of the ODROID-H2 with peripherals and heat-sink on

Figure 2 - Here is another view of the assembly of the ODROID-H2 with peripherals and heat-sink on
Figure 2 - Here is another view of the assembly of the ODROID-H2 with peripherals and heat-sink on

Figure 3 - The design of the caddy
Figure 3 - The design of the caddy

Figure 4 - The design of the caddy
Figure 4 - The design of the caddy

Figure 5 - The design of the caddyFigure 5 - The design of the caddy

Figure 6 - The design of the caddy

Figure 6 - The design of the caddy

Figure 7 - The first 3D print, which pretty much works, but needs thicker pillars
Figure 7 - The first 3D print, which pretty much works, but needs thicker pillars

Figure 8 - The first 3D print, which pretty much works, but needs thicker pillars
Figure 8 - The first 3D print, which pretty much works, but needs thicker pillars

Figure 9 - The first 3D print, which pretty much works, but needs thicker pillars
Figure 9 - The first 3D print, which pretty much works, but needs thicker pillars

Figure 10 - I decided to make an unusual hack, letting each audio connector embed itself into the next block
Figure 10 - I decided to make an unusual hack, letting each audio connector embed itself into the next block

Figure 11 - The audio block is higher than the mount, as you can see on this side view
Figure 11 - The audio block is higher than the mount, as you can see on this side view

Figure 12 - A socket has been created on the base of the mount to embed the audio connector from the previous H2 block
Figure 12 - A socket has been created on the base of the mount to embed the audio connector from the previous H2 block

Figure 13 - Here you can see how each audio connector embeds in the next block, saving space to allow 8 units in 3Us
Figure 13 - Here you can see how each audio connector embeds in the next block, saving space to allow 8 units in 3Us

Figure 14 - Once you put them together, the blade center looks like this
Figure 14 - Once you put them together, the blade center looks like this

Figure 15 - After receiving the RAM and SSD
Figure 15 - After receiving the RAM and SSD

Figure 16 - The first mount print
Figure 16 - The first mount print

Figure 17 - The first mount print
Figure 17 - The first mount print

Figure 18 - The second mount print, where the alignment knobs work well, but the holes need to be cleaned of plastic for them to do their job properly
Figure 18 - The second mount print, where the alignment knobs work well, but the holes need to be cleaned of plastic for them to do their job properly

Figure 19 - The entire rack assembled, where I implemented a press fit system so that the blades don't come off the mount easily, with a click and a helper tab to get them out, similar to the Ethernet cables
Figure 19 - The entire rack assembled, where I implemented a press fit system so that the blades don't come off the mount easily, with a click and a helper tab to get them out, similar to the Ethernet cables

Figure 20 - Here is a section to see the lock system working
Figure 20 - Here is a section to see the lock system working

Figure 21 - Here you can see how the caddy and tab interact
Figure 21 - Here you can see how the caddy and tab interact

Figure 22 - The final assembly mounted into a rack, with 3 ODROID-H2 units installed
Figure 22 - The final assembly mounted into a rack, with 3 ODROID-H2 units installed

Required Hardware

  • 4x Rods, M6x44.5 cm (Metal or Nylon)
  • 4x M6 Nuts
  • Optional 32x M3 HeatLok Brass Inserts from PSM International or similar.
  • Optional 32x M3x5mm screws for Insert Version
  • Optional 32x self tapping screws 5-6mm long (hole is 2.5mm wide)

Printed Parts

  • 8x H2 Caddy (either Inserts or Self tapping version) Version with inserts recommended, but requires brass inserts.
  • 8x H2 Mount part (vanilla, pressfit or pressfit&tab version) recommended the one with tab.
  • 1x Ear Left
  • 1x Ear Right

Equipment

  • 8x H2 Boards
  • 3U available in a rack (small depth/network rack is OK)
  • PSU

Pending Issues

I have not tested the Self-tapping screws version of the caddy The distributed PSU is not rack friendly.

ODROID-H2 Design Feedback For the particular use case of using the H2 as a rack blade, the following issues have been found:

  • The audio connectors are too tall, and should stay within the limits of the other connectors
  • The positioning of the power/reset switches is inconvenient, and it would be better to have them in the front of the caddy
  • The positioning of the LEDs is also inconvenient

For more information, comments, suggestions, and questions, please visit the project page at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3929164 or the ODROID Forum post at https://forum.odroid.com/viewtopic.php?t=36780&p=272149.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply