The role of a system administrator goes beyond managing servers and networks. 3D technology offers practical solutions for their daily tasks, from manufacturing custom hardware mounts to creating prototypes of racks or device enclosures. A clear example: designing and printing a mount for a liquid cooling system that is not available on the market, using modeling and slicing software.
Workflow: from design to server 🛠️
To materialize these parts, the administrator needs specific tools. Fusion 360 or FreeCAD allow modeling parts with exact tolerances for components like fans or power supplies. Then, a slicer like PrusaSlicer or Cura prepares the file for the printer. An FDM printer with PETG or ABS filament is sufficient for functional parts. The result: a custom solution that avoids waiting for spare parts and reduces costs.
When your rack turns into IKEA furniture 😅
Because yes, when you've been struggling with messy cabling for three hours, you dream of a 3D printer that makes a perfect cable organizer. Then you end up printing a part, placing it in the rack, and the next day you realize that you didn't measure the distance between the holes correctly. But hey, it's better than having to cut a metal tray with a jigsaw on a Friday at seven in the evening.