I Build a 10 Inch Mini Rack from Aluminium Extrusions
7 hours ago
- #Virtualization Setup
- #Aluminum Extrusions
- #DIY Mini Rack
- Built a 10-inch mini rack using 20mm aluminum extrusions to organize six 1L PCs and tidy up desk clutter, inspired by Jeff Geerling's video.
- Used aluminum extrusions, L-brackets, and cage nuts for a customizable frame; opted for custom-cut aluminum sheets as shelves instead of expensive 3D-printed or prebuilt metal ones for better cooling and cost savings.
- Mounted PDUs vertically due to space constraints from the extrusions, and addressed cooling with USB-powered fans, but faced cable management and access challenges for VGA/DP ports.
- Total cost was around €313.28, excluding extra items like fans; the rack runs Debian for virtualization, uses ~90W idle, and is powered on via Zigbee and wake-on-LAN.
- Overall satisfied with the build for its functionality, aesthetics, and desk organization, though acknowledging areas for improvement in future iterations.