Because the DEC Mini is a full-size computer, there are many parts to be 3D-printed. The bigger parts have been designed to be printed in pieces and then glued together. This allows them to be printed in small 3D-printers, and if a print fails, only that piece must be printed again.

Find out more details on building the DEC Mini, additional info on backplates and keyboard choice and more at https://decmini.com

See it working here:

https://twitter.com/lorenzoherrera/status/1487726861031460869

https://twitter.com/lorenzoherrera/status/1414633081319960576

Choose the parts to print

The DEC Mini allows for two modular backplates at the back:

You'll first need to print Backplate (Power) that holds the power button and inlet.

For a Raspberry PI, also print this parts:

• Backplate (Raspberry Pi) Caddy
• Backplate (Raspberry Pi)

For a LattePanda Alpha or Delta models, print these:

• Backplate (LattePanda Alpha/Delta) Base
• Backplate (LattePanda Alpha/Delta) Exhaust
• Backplate (LattePanda Alpha/Delta) Caddy

The DEC Mini can be fitted with a real 3 1/2 inch disk drive. If you're going to fit your DEC Mini with one, print this part:

• Disk drive caddy

If you'd rather go for a DEC Mini without a disk drive, print the drive bay cover:

• Disk drive bay cover

Since the DEC Mini is a full-sized working computer, it's been designed to be printed in smaller pieces that you should glue together. When gluing the parts together, it's recommended to use the provided clamp pieces for better strength, print several of these:

• Clamp (x10)

All the other parts are required.

Find a display

Stripping out the parts of a 10" inch HDMI 4:3 monitor like the Eyoyo 10" inch IPS HDMI 4:3 display is the recommended option, since you’ll be able to forget about the audio amplifier and connect the speakers straight into the monitor board. By doing so, you’ll also avoid annoying and very noticeable noise interferences which usually happen when using cheap amplifier boards. The integrated audio amplifier from a display like the Eyoyo is well isolated electrically and takes the audio signal from the HDMI cable, which saves you one additional cable.

The HDMI 10" LCD Screen from Pimoroni3 will also fit nicely, but it doesn’t comes with audio output.

Find a keyboard

The DEC Mini is designed to be fitted with a real mechanical keyboard that you should buy. The DEC Mini keyboard fitting should be compatible with most keyboards like the DREVO Calibur V2 60%, which is the recommended one.

However, other similar keyboards might fit as well as long as the board has the same size and the screws are placed on the same spots. This diagram shows the specific size and distribution of screw holes that would fit perfectly on the DEC Mini, in millimeters:

You'll of course need some other components to power your SOC computer and wire up everything inside, like a power supply, a small USB HUB and other shenanigans. You're a builder, you'll figure it out!