# How we designed an injection-molded case

## Preparation

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/016/931/medium800/adafruit_products_1326-00.jpg?1400710986)

Hi there, Mike Doell here! I designed the Adafruit Pi Case and took a few screenshots and photos along the way. This tutorial will go through the process I undertook to design this injection molded case.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/016/827/medium800/adafruit_products_pi_w_cables.jpg?1400613122)

Gather all of the relevant cables, sd cards etc that may be used with the board. Put all the things that may be plugged into the board in place.  
  
This gives us an idea of what to look out for as we generate ideas and highlights possible interference between the case and the parts.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/016/829/medium800/adafruit_products_pi_2d_cad.jpg?1400613852)

Time to start measuring components and building them in CAD. Here is a drawing of the raspberry pi that was built in 3D, to use as an underlay while designing the case.  
  
Sometimes you're lucky and there's a CAD file available to use as a 'negative' - but sometimes we're not so lucky!

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/016/830/medium800/adafruit_products_raspberry_pi_concepts_V5.266.jpg?1400614108)

Next step is to build and assemble all of cables in 3D. This helps make sure we have plenty of clearance for overmolding, etc. Try to get the chunkiest cables people may end up using

- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-we-designed-an-injection-molded-case-for-raspberry-pi/design.md)

## Related Guides

- [Adafruit CAN Bus FeatherWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-can-bus-featherwing.md)
- [Facial Detection and Recognition with MEMENTO](https://learn.adafruit.com/facial-detection-and-recognition-with-memento.md)
- [Adafruit PyPortal Titano](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pyportal-titano.md)
- [Adafruit AirLift FeatherWing - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-airlift-featherwing-esp32-wifi-co-processor-featherwing.md)
- [Adafruit DPI Display Kippah](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-dpi-display-kippah-ttl-tft.md)
- [Tweet-a-watt](https://learn.adafruit.com/tweet-a-watt.md)
- [Introducing the Adafruit Bluefruit LE UART Friend](https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-the-adafruit-bluefruit-le-uart-friend.md)
- [Adafruit QT Py RP2040](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-qt-py-2040.md)
- [Sending Live Sensor Data to iOS with BLE](https://learn.adafruit.com/bno055-ble-ios-app.md)
- [Adafruit UPDI Friend](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-updi-friend.md)
- [Adafruit's Raspberry Pi Lesson 10. Stepper Motors](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruits-raspberry-pi-lesson-10-stepper-motors.md)
- [Blues Playground](https://learn.adafruit.com/blues-playground.md)
- [Analog Feedback Servos](https://learn.adafruit.com/analog-feedback-servos.md)
- [AstroPrint 3D Printing](https://learn.adafruit.com/astroprint-3d-printing.md)
- [Adafruit 10-DOF IMU Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-10-dof-imu-breakout-lsm303-l3gd20-bmp180.md)