A Rack System That Doesn't Care What You're Racking

You want to build a small homelab rack for a few Raspberry Pis. Then you find a design that fits exactly the gear its creator owned, in exactly the size they needed, and it's useless the moment you buy a different switch. Or you commit to a 10" standard rack, only to discover your new device needs an adapter you have to hunt down separately. HomeRacker takes a different approach: it's a fully modular, 3D-printable rack-building system designed to adapt to whatever you're trying to rack—whether that's Pis, servers, shoes, or books.

What It Does

HomeRacker is a modular rack-building system you print yourself. The basic system (referred to as HomeRacker - Core) is a set of parametric and non-parametric models that snap together into racks of basically any shape or size. The README frames it as a solution for "virtually any racking needs"—a 10" server rack for your homelab, a bookshelf, a shoe rack, or some combination of all of the above.

The project lives in two places. The parametric models, along with the .f3d files (like the HomeRacker - Core), are on Makerworld under the kellerlab account, and the parametric models are also available in the GitHub repository. The system is built from basic building blocks—supports, connectors, and lock pins—plus specialized add-ons like a 10" rackmount kit, a Raspberry Pi 5 mount kit, customizable rackmount ears written as an OpenSCAD file, and an airflow kit with front, back, side, top, and bottom panels. The author is also working on 19" standard rack support, though that's still in progress.

Why It's Cool

• It solves the "general problem," not one specific one. The README is upfront about the motivation: existing designs were too specific to their creators' devices, or supported only the 10" standard with no room to deviate. HomeRacker was built as a generic answer instead—one system that grows with your needs rather than forcing you to buy a bigger rack or start over when your setup changes.

• Modularity is the whole point. Because it's assembled from supports, connectors, and lock pins, the same building blocks serve wildly different purposes. A Pi mini-rack, a 10" homelab rack, and a bookshelf can all come out of the same box of parts—or be combined into what the README cheerfully calls "an abomination of a rack."

• The add-ons are genuinely practical. The Raspberry Pi 5 mount kit includes a vertical mount adapter and a front panel for 10" racks. The rackmount ears are fully customizable via OpenSCAD, so you can fit hardware the original designer never owned. There's even an airflow kit with intake and exhaust grids.

• The specs are open. The README explicitly calls out open specs for supports, connectors, and lock pins—so you're not locked into one vendor's ecosystem. You can design against the standard yourself.

• It's free to build on. HomeRacker - Core is free for everyone to use, remix, and reshare, and the project has a contributing guide and developer tools if you want to go further than printing.

How to Try It

1. Watch the overview first. The README links a YouTube video ("What is HomeRacker") that walks through the system—worth a few minutes before you start printing.

2. Grab the files. For non-parametric and .f3d models (including HomeRacker - Core), head to the Makerworld profile. For parametric models, use the GitHub repository.

3. Read the assembly and printing guidance. The README includes sections on assembly basics, assembly tips, and printing tips—check these before your first print so you get the tolerances right.

4. Pick your add-ons. The 10" rackmount kit, Pi 5 mount kit, and customizable rackmount ears are linked from the README. The rackmount ears OpenSCAD file is in the repo at models/rackmount_ears/parts/rackmount_ears.scad, and you can also customize them directly on Makerworld.

5. Check the tech specs. Supports, connectors, and lock pins are documented, so you can design your own parts against the open spec if the existing ones don't fit your gear.

Start here: https://github.com/kellerlabs/homeracker

Final Thoughts

HomeRacker is best for people with a 3D printer, a growing pile of small devices, and a dislike of buying a new rack every time their setup changes. The project is honest about its scope—the 19" standard support is still a work in progress, and some of the ecosystem lives on Makerworld rather than in the repo—but the core idea is sound and the open specs mean you're not dependent on the author's imagination. If your racking needs keep changing, a system built to change with them is a reasonable bet.

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