Open Compute Project
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Open Compute Project
Im looking to design a 1U enclosure for an OCP (Open Compute Project) compatible rack. Anyone ever done this or able to point me towards good CAD as a starting point? OCP enclosures are 21" wide and not your standard 19". Please!
Re: Open Compute Project
Re: Open Compute Project
Im looking to design a 1U enclosure for an OCP (Open Compute Project) compatible rack.
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quietbreezy
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2026 4:45 am
Re: Open Compute Project
Hi,
Yes, OCP racks are 21” wide (instead of the standard 19”), and they follow the Open Rack standard (typically based on the Open Rack v2 spec). If you're designing a 1U enclosure, I’d recommend starting with the official mechanical drawings from the Open Compute Project site.
Are you targeting Open Rack v2 or v3?
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MarjorokBaier
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2026 12:23 am
Re: Open Compute Project
Designing a 1U OCP enclosure is a neat project! Finding CAD files for those wider 21" racks can be tricky. It's a bit like trying to escape Granny's house - you need the right tools and a solid plan. I haven't personally designed one, but maybe check OCP's website for resources, or look for similar open-source hardware projects. Good luck with your build!
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cohortknowledge
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2026 5:22 am
Re: Open Compute Project
Hey, I ran into something similar when looking at OCP hardware. One place I’d suggest starting is the official specs from the Open Compute Project, especially the Open Rack V2/V3 mechanical design files. They usually include detailed dimensions for the 21" equipment bay and the OpenU (OU) height units, which are slightly taller than standard rack units. A lot of people I know import those spec drawings into SolidWorks or Fusion and build their enclosure around that reference. If you haven’t checked yet, the OCP site should have the mechanical spec PDFs and sometimes STEP files for rails and rack geometry. That might give you a solid baseline for designing a 1OU chassis that will actually slide into a 21" rack correctly.
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