The DIY NAS movement gains sophistication with an ambitious new project merging Raspberry Pi 5's processing power, Radxa's high-density storage capabilities, and professional-grade aluminum housing. Inspired by Jeff Geerling's compact Pi 5 NAS experiments, this build introduces three innovations that elevate the DIY storage concept: a thermally efficient CNC-milled enclosure, an embedded touchscreen GUI for direct system interaction, and a custom USB-PD power board enabling cleaner 12V power delivery—with future plans for integrated UPS functionality.

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Hardware Synergy: Pi 5 + Radxa Penta HAT

At its core, the system pairs Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB minimum) with Radxa's Penta SATA HAT, enabling five-drive connectivity in a footprint smaller than traditional NAS enclosures. This foundation leverages OpenMediaVault or Immich for storage and media management, but diverges through physical refinements:
- Aluminum Enclosure: Designed around extruded profiles similar to the creator's Ubo Pod project, it prioritizes heat dissipation and structural rigidity over 3D-printed prototypes
- Embedded GUI: A touchscreen interface displays real-time CPU/memory/network metrics and allows basic file operations—like previewing images—without external peripherals
- Power Innovations: The custom side-board replaces barrel connectors with USB-PD input while prototyping future UPS support for internal battery backups

From Prototype to Production

Current iterations use 3D-printed components, but production units will employ CNC-machined aluminum. The GUI software builds upon the open-source Ubo-app framework, with disk monitoring features actively being implemented. Community feedback directly shapes development—design files (STLs, KiCAD schematics) are available on GitHub, while early adopter kits are offered via Shopify.

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Initial 3D-printed prototype showcasing component layout and GUI integration

Why This Matters for DIY Culture

This project exemplifies hardware hacking's evolution: It addresses pain points in existing solutions (cable clutter, external monitoring dependencies) while maintaining accessibility. The USB-PD board alone eliminates dedicated power bricks, and the GUI enables "headless" file transfers via USB drives. By open-sourcing mechanical and electrical designs, the creator invites collaborative refinement—a model that accelerates innovation beyond proprietary ecosystems.

As Raspberry Pi 5 unlocks new embedded potential, projects like this demonstrate how thoughtful integration layers—physical and digital—can transform commodity hardware into elegant, user-centric solutions. The full build documentation and video series are available on GitHub and the Ubo blog.