Got an Arduino UNO R4 sitting loose on your desk? A tiny case that prints in under an hour can protect it, and this one even turns its inside into a feature.
A maker called Maker_Mountanman shared a protective enclosure built specifically for the Arduino UNO R4 board on MakerWorld. Instead of printing solid roofs and floors, the design leaves the top and bottom layers off. That means you can see the internal gyroid infill, a wavy, organic lattice, right through the opening. It looks like a design choice because it is one.
The clever part is how the board stays put. Four small nubs push into the Arduino's mounting holes and hold it snugly, so there are no screws, glue, or extra hardware to hunt for. The case can also be expanded to make room for add-on shield boards, which is handy once your project grows past the basics.
Here is how to print it. Download the files from MakerWorld and load them into your slicer. The original example used 0.2 mm layers, 3 walls, and 15% gyroid infill, with the top and bottom solid layers set to zero. That worked out to about 11 grams of filament and a 37 minute print. Silk or dual-color PLA makes the pattern pop, but plain PLA works fine for a first try. Check the licence on the page, since it is for non-commercial use.
Why does leaving off the solid layers work? Gyroid infill is strong in every direction, so the walls stay stiff even with an open top. It is also a pattern many slicers include for free. If your printer struggles to bridge across the open gaps, try slowing down the first layers or adding a little cooling. Small enclosures like this are forgiving, which makes them ideal for learning how wall count, infill density, and layer height change both strength and appearance.
Try it on your printer: This is a great quick test for tuning your infill and learning how settings change the look of a part. Pick up PLA and other beginner-friendly supplies at Flarelab, then print one for your next microcontroller project.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need screws to hold the Arduino in this case?
No. Four small nubs press into the board's mounting holes and hold it in place, so the case needs no screws, glue, or other fasteners.
Why does the case have no solid top or bottom layers?
The maker left them out on purpose so the 15% gyroid infill stays visible as part of the design. It also saves filament and shortens the print.
What filament works best for a case like this?
Standard PLA is a good beginner choice. A dual-color or silk PLA makes the gyroid pattern stand out, though any PLA will print the shape fine.
How long does the print take?
The original example took about 37 minutes and used roughly 11 grams of filament at 0.2 mm layers with 3 walls. Your printer and settings may vary a little.
Inspired by a model shared on MakerWorld and featured on the Adafruit blog. Original source.
