ESP32-S3 N16R8 DevKitC Clone Case - Screwless, Pin Labels, Pins Up or Down

⚠ Not yet test-printed. Measured from photos of one board. If you print it, please post a Make or leave a comment and tell me what fit and what didn't (USB ports, buttons, pin slots, lid latch). I'll update the files.

A screwless case for the black ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 N16R8 clone board (S3-N16R8 module with the antenna hanging past the PCB end, two USB-C ports).

Two versions

• Pins down (factory headers): the pin slots are in the floor. Pull out a label strip and plug jumper wires in from underneath. Lift the board out when you want it on a breadboard.

• Pins up (headers re-soldered with the long pins pointing up): the pin slots and label strips are in the lid.

Features

• No screws: the lid hooks in at the USB end and clicks shut with a latch at the antenna end

• Removable pin-label strips with engraved GPIO numbers. They cover the pin slots when not in use

• Flexure BOOT and RST buttons cut into the lid (no loose parts)

• Thin LED windows: print the lid in white or natural PETG and the LEDs glow through

• Both USB-C ports open, vents over the module

• Pins-up version: a printed spring pops the board up when the lid comes off

• Optional 10-minute fit gauge to check your board before printing the full case

Assembly

1. Slide the USB end of the board into the slot in the end wall and lower it onto the two ledges.

2. Tilt the lid, hook its tab into the groove in the USB wall, then press the antenna end down until it clicks.

3. Press the label strips into their pockets. They are a light press fit.

To open: push the latch in through the window in the antenna-end wall (paperclip or small screwdriver), lift the lid at the fingernail notch, then slide the tab out.

Before you print Board dimensions were measured from photos of one board (about +/-0.5 mm), and clone boards vary between sellers. The case has extra clearance to cover this. If you have calipers, check your board is about 56 x 27 mm (PCB only), with pins about 6 mm below the header plastic (pins down). Or print the fit gauge first.

Files

• *_print.stl: base, lid and both strips on one plate

• *_base.stl, *_lid.stl, *_strips.stl: the same parts separately

• *_gauge.stl: optional fit gauge

• esp32s3_n16r8_case.scad: parametric OpenSCAD source. Set pins_up, then adjust the board dimensions for other clones

Print notes

• PETG recommended (the latch and buttons flex). PLA works but is more brittle.

• No supports. Print the parts in the orientation in the file.

• Strips are printed text side down. Use ~0.1-0.15 mm elephant-foot compensation so the letters stay open. Swap filament at 0.4 mm for coloured labels.

• Optional: 4 stick-on rubber feet, 7 mm (pins down) or 8 mm (pins up) diameter, 0.8 mm recesses.

Print settings

• Material: PETG (PLA OK)

• Layer height: 0.2 mm

• Nozzle: 0.4 mm

• Walls / perimeters: 3

• Infill: 15-20 %

• Supports: none

• Brim / raft: none needed

• Print time: roughly 2-3 h for the full plate (the base alone sliced at about 1 h in PLA)