Assemble Pico 20E - Raspberry Pi 3

by Craig Brown March 12, 2018

These instructions show how to assemble a complete Pico 5E Raspberry PI cluster.

The instructions for assembling the Pi board stack are here. This needs to be completed before assembling the rest of the Cube.

Please contact support@picocluster.com if you encounter any difficulties.

Step 1 – Base Panel

Remove the paper backing from the acrylic and screw the stack to the base panel using the 3/8" screws and washers from packet 1. Mount all 4 board stacks on all 4 corners as shown.

Step 2 – Power Supply Panel

Mount the power supply to the base panel using the power supply screws and nylon washers from packet F.

Step 3 – Switch Panels

Remove the paper backing from the switch panels and open the switch package.

Screw the 3/4" M/F standoff through the switch board to the 1/2" F/F standoff on the other side of the switch. Attach the second switch to the the first using the other 3/4" M/F standoffs as shown. Attach the acrylic switch panels using the 3/8" screw and washers. Make sure the orientation is correct. The nut capture slots are at the bottom switch port. The switch power ports are at the top, opposite the nut capture slots. The front of the switch should stick out a bit from the acrylic panels when assembled properly. This needs to be done twice to form 2 switch assemblies.

Attach the switch assemblies to the base panel as shown. Use a screw/washer/nut combo from packet E. It's usually easier to place the nuts in the nut capture slots in the switch assembly, then set the assembly into the base panel, then insert and tighten screws from the bottom.

Place the switch assembly into place in the cluster as shown, then add the switch side panel and screw the switch assemble to the side panel using the 3/8" screws and nylon washers.

Step 4 – Back Panel

Attach the fan using the #6 3/4" screws, nylon washers and nuts from packet F.

Mount the A/C power connector using the 1/2" screws, nylon washers, and nuts from packet F.

Make sure that the A/C power connector is wired as shown.

Attach the back panel to the base panel and side panels as shown. Use a screw/washer/nut combo from packet E.

Step 5 – Power Supply and Wiring

Attach the A/C power input wires to the right most power supply terminals. They are from right to left [L power] [N neutral] [G ground].

Attach the leads for the PDUs to the left most terminals. They are from left to right [+ positive] [- ground].

Mount the power supply to the base panel using the power supply screws and nylon washers from packet F.

Step 6 – PDU Wiring

Thread the PDU lead wires and the switch power leads through the cable management hole on the PDU mount as shown. The switch leads have a barrel connector on one end.

For the PDU, the terminals from left to right are [+ in] [- ground] [+ out]. Attach the power input to the left(red) and center(black) terminals. Attach the switch power and the fan power wires to the power output right(red) and center(black) terminals. Make sure the terminals are screwed down tight.

Step 7 – Network Cabling

Connect the network cables from each switch to one of the board stacks as shown. Each switch corresponds to one board stack. Cable all for switches and board stacks this way.

Both pairs of switches needs to be cross connected to each other at the bottom using one of the network cables.

Cross connect both switch assemblies together using the remaining network cable.

Step 8 – Front Panel

Remove the paper backing from the front panel. Attach the HDMI, Ethernet, and USB extension cables to the front panel using the 3/8" screws and nylon washers from Packet D.

Attach the switch front panel to the base panel and side panels as shown. Use a screw/washer/nut combo from packet E.

Step 9 – Cabling

Thread all of the cables along the bottom to the back of the case.

Plug the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on the top board, then tuck the excess away.

Plug both of the USB ports to 2 of the USB ports on the top board. Pull back around to the cable management port and attach with a cable tie.

Plug one Ethernet cable to the top most port on the switch on one switch assembly and the other Ethernet cable to a switch on the top switch port on the other switch assembly.

Plug the switch power cable into the power port on the switch.