Mini Ripper (Optical Disc Drive Case For The Framework 12 Motherboard)

About this Design:
The Mini Ripper is a computer based on the idea of making a small but powerful device for burning and ripping optical media. I have a few versions of this device in various states of design/prototype and the Framework Laptop 12 Mainboard Re-Use contest made me realize that the mainboard/motherboard of the Framework Laptop 12 would be an excellent choice of hardware to pair with an external disc drive. 
You can use any software stack you like as long as the hardware is compatible, which opens up all sorts of possibilities for building the Mini Ripper as either a HTPC, a dedicated archival device or whatever you can imagine!

I based the current design around the Asus ZenDrive (SDRW-08V1M-U) as it has support for a wide range of DVD compatible media subtypes and has an integrated USB-C cable. I have included STEP files so that anyone can modify this to fit any drive they have on hand, or just modify it for fun!

I currently have printed the most important mechanical pieces in a prototype quality out of some waterlogged Polyterra PLA, and I am currently iterating on this design to improve the mounting of the disc drive and to make minor tweaks where I feel they are needed. If you have any input to share please don't hesitate to let me know in the comments down below! 


What you need to make this:
A Framework Laptop 12 Mainboard
An Asus ZenDrive or similar external USB powered disc drive
A right angle USB-C adapter or USB-C to USB-A adapter if your drive uses USB-A
Ten M2 x 8mm socket head cap screws (SHCS)
Ten M2 x 6mm socket head cap screws (SHCS)
500 Grams of Filament (I designed around PLA but PETG and ABS should be fine)
The printed parts below (Parts that require multiples have their quantity in the file name)

Most Parts can be printed at 15% infill; but the Power Button, the Drive Grippers, and the Clips should be printed at 25% infill or higher. All Parts should print fine in a 250mm² or larger build volume.

Assembly
0. Print the parts in their default orientations to prevent supports from being needed
1. The Power Button and Back Plate STLs have built-in removable supports that can be removed with pliers or your bare hands.
2. Press fit the power button into the faceplate so that the small hole on the power button fits over the small peg on the back of the faceplate. If the peg breaks off or doesn't print successfully you can glue or melt the top of the rectangular portion to the matching face on the back of the faceplate.
3. Install the 6 Clips onto the sides of the Bottom Shell using six M2 x 8mm screws.
4. Install the Faceplate into the slot on the front of the Bottom Shell, the front is opposite the air intake.
5. Fasten the Framework Mainboard to the Bottom Shell using five M2 x 6mm screws, if you don't have any more 6mm screws you can use 8mm screws here.
6. Install the right angle USB-C adapter into the rear USB-C Port closest to the air outlet.
7. Install the Back Plate into the back of the Bottom Shell, make sure that the USB-C port aligns with the port on the motherboard.
8. Install the 5 Drive Grippers onto the Top Shell, orient them so that the flat portion points towards the outside of the Top Shell.
9. Insert the disc drive into the Drive Grippers with the drive door facing the front of the case.
10. Plug the drive into the right angle USB-C adapter and snap the top shell onto the bottom shell.
11. Install the Base Plate onto the Bottom Shell using four M2 x 8mm screws.

If you don't want to use the USB-C ports on the front of the Mini Ripper for video output you can use a powered display hub to power the device through the rear port, or depending on your use case you might not need a display and can run the device headless.


Future Improvements:
I have made this design to be as simple as possible in the timeframe available but ideally I would like to make some tweaks in the future.
- Normally in my designs I have used threaded inserts instead of relying on the printers dimensional accuracy for threading in standard machine screws, and I plan to make a version of this case that fits M2 threaded inserts.
- I would like to explore implementing Framework Expansion cards into the case to allow for potential users to use those, this would most likely require USB-C extensions to relocate the front ports to the back of the unit for a more tidy aesthetic. 
- Faceplates and grippers that are designed for other models of external disk drives.
- It should be possible to create a 5V breakout using the pogo pins on the motherboard to power a slim internal disc drive, this would also require designing around a SATA to USB C connector.