This 3D-Printable Clamshell Case Makes for a Robust Heltec V3-Powered Meshtastic Communicator

Pseudonymous maker "JKat3" has released 3D print files to turn a Heltec LoRa V3 Espressif ESP32-based radio development board into a fully standalone pocket-friendly node for the Meshtastic mesh network project — in a clamshell-style housing.

"For my first mechanistic case design," JKat3 writes of the project, "here's a model for a stand alone Meshtastic radio with external and larger internal screen, external bullpup rotary encoder for canned messages when screen is closed or when you don't want to touch the keyboard, GPS, environmental sensor, button for flashlight (separate from notification LED), and [a] button to enable and disable [the] buzzer and one for [the] vibration motor."

Inside the custom housing, which uses a clamshell design with a larger internal OLED display and a smaller external one, is the Heltec V3 radio module, a popular device that combines LoRa connectivity with an Espressif ESP32 microcontroller. This runs the Meshtastic firmware, connecting the gadget to the community-driven LoRa-based Meshtastic mesh network — allowing for location tracking and short text messaging entirely off-grid.

Elsewhere in the case is a 3,000mAh battery, a GPS receiver for accurate location tracking and reporting, a Bosch Sensortec BME 680 environmental sensor, an internal whip antenna plus a dedicated antenna for the GPS receiver, a rotary knob, three buttons, and the M5Stack Card Keyboard for text entry.

"The model prints very smoothly in PLA-CF and other filaments," JKat3 says, "as shown is printed in ASA for better durability. The goal was to have a larger screen, internal antenna, external and internal features, and to fit as many modules as possible and still fold to fit in your pocket (many pockets) and have [a] flashlight. I have printed vertically with tree supports with success, for texture I printed with the interior of the cases face up with tree supports. 35–50% infill. Print the screen cover with the post on the interior side vertical."

The model is available on Printables under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license, with more information available in JKat3's post on Reddit. Those inspired by the project to design a node of their own, meanwhile, should check out our Meshtastic Device Design Challenge to be in with a chance of winning something from a prize pool valued at over $7,000.