Introducing the Haven Case: Open-Source Armor for Your MANET
Today I’m stoked to release something that’s been a long time coming.
A rugged, field-ready, breathable 3D-printable case for Raspberry Pi-based MANET radios — built around the Haven system and the OpenMANET project. Designed by MorosX, refined by Parallel.
We could’ve easily sold this. In fact, many probably will. But this time, we wanted to give back — directly to the community that’s been building the future of open-source wireless tech from all over the world.
So we’re releasing it under the most open license possible: Public Domain.
Completely Open — No Strings Attached
This case is yours to download, print, modify, sell, or embed in your own products — no attribution required. It’s our way of reinforcing what Parallel stands for: ownership, freedom, and decentralization.
License Overview (Public Domain):
✔ Sharing without attribution
✔ Remix culture allowed
✔ Commercial use permitted
✔ Free cultural work
✔ Meets the Open Definition
You can grab the full STL and release details now directly from Printables.com.
Built by MorosX in collaboration with Parallel.
The Haven Case was designed by Trey at MorosX, a guy whose obsession with tactical communication gear borders on legend. He reverse-engineers systems that cost tens of thousands of dollars — lock circuits, antennas, push-to-talk modules — and makes them affordable, open, and insanely capable.
He spent weeks refining this design: optimizing internal airflow, adding structural ribs, and integrating GoPro-style mounts so you can deploy it anywhere — on a pole, pack, or vehicle. When I first held it, it felt like something that belonged on a special-ops kit.
MorosX’s IP mesh radios are pushing throughput and bandwidth far beyond what people expect from hobby links — capable of streaming high-resolution video and data without breaking a sweat. If you haven’t seen his latest gear, go look; it’s surreal.
Design Choices — Built to Go With You Into the Fray
Engineered for field ops.
1. Sterile and Unattributable
The Haven is 100% sterile — no logos, no insignia, and no identifying marks that can be traced back to a brand or manufacturer. It’s a blank canvas by design. In real deployments or sensitive field work, anonymity matters just as much as durability. You decide what labels go on it — if any.
2. Modular shell + insert system
The Haven splits into two main pieces: an outer shell built for impact and mounting, and an inner insert that holds the Pi, HATs, batteries, and connectors. That lets you swap electronics without reprinting the whole box — or print different inserts for different radios.
3. Structural ribs and distributed loads
Instead of a solid cube that crumples at the corner, the Haven uses engineered ribs and fillets that disperse shock across the shell. That means drops don’t concentrate stress in one point and your board doesn’t get a bent standoff.
4. Breathable, directed airflow
MANET radios and Raspberry Pis get hot in the field. We designed channelized vents that encourage convective flow across the CPU and radio modules while keeping dust out. The vent geometry minimizes direct spray paths and still provides cooling for long, heavy-load sessions.
5. Internal standoffs & cable routing
Mount points are sized for standard M2–M3 standoffs and keep antennas and power leads away from board traces. Antenna passthroughs are chamfered for easy sealing or grommeting; there’s room for both short-barrel and long-barrel SMA assemblies.
6. Battery bay & swapability
The insert includes a secure battery pocket with retention tabs for 18650 packs or LiPo pouches. Swapping power in the field is fast and predictable — no wrestling with glued cells.
7. Material choice — PA6-CF20 recommended
For anyone printing a deployable node, carbon-fiber reinforced nylon (PA6-CF20) gives the best mix of toughness, heat resistance, and dimensional stability. It’s what we use for our field builds. PLA is fine for prototyping; deploy in nylon.
8. Print-first ergonomics
We optimized wall thickness, cell infill targets, and bridging so you get a solid print without insane supports. There are print notes in the repository for people who want the highest durability settings.
The GoPro Mounting System — Why It Wins in the Field
We could have bolted on straps or designed a custom lashing system, but we chose the GoPro quick-mount for one simple reason: it’s ubiquitous, modular, and it bypasses the complexity of overpriced mounting ecosystems like MOLLE plates or Juggernaut-style rigs.
Why GoPro mounts > MOLLE or proprietary systems
Ubiquity: Adapters, pole clamps, tripod bases, suction mounts, chest rigs — GoPro hardware exists for every use case.
Cost: A full set of GoPro mounts costs less than one Juggernaut clip. You can outfit multiple nodes for the price of a single commercial rig.
Speed: Quick-release mounts let you redeploy in seconds — no threading straps or unscrewing bolts mid-mission.
Flexibility: The universal prong interface works with nearly all third-party gear, making experimentation painless.
Minimal profile: The system adds almost no weight, which matters for backpack or drone-mounted nodes under the 250g limit.
In the field, that means you can mount a Haven on a tree branch, tripod, or vehicle mirror in minutes — using parts you already own.
Printing Options
The pictures above feature a home printed version using a PA6-CF20 filament from Polymaker. I now have a few pieces of kit printed with this material and I trust it's durability, flexibility, and heat resistance. For fun, I ran over it in my car and the radio held without issue. However, due to price or other factors you may want to explore other materials.
I send off a quick test print to JLC3DP. A very reasonable Shenzen located PCB and 3D printing facility with industrial grade options. I'm a big fan of the PA12-HP Nylon which is what we use for the Houdini dog tracker.
But JLC was promoting a newer, similar material, that apparently has even better heat resistance.
So I decided to give that a try and I was not disappointed...
A New Standard for Open-Source Hardware
Haven proves that decentralized home-lab gear can rival centralized Big Tech hardware while delivering more capability, more resilience, and more security to the people who actually use it.
This ecosystem grows because builders push it forward — the ones wiring up their own grids, mounting nodes in the field, outfitting vans, and showing that real connectivity doesn’t need permission from a corporation.
This design is open because the future should be.
Download and Join the Mission
The full assembly section is coming to the Haven guide. If you want to follow step-by-step, the guide is available now. 🧰 Build your Haven node at buildwithparallel.com/products/haven
📦 Grab the STL on Printables.com
📡 Follow the OpenMANET project
💬 Join the Modern Radio Discord: discord.gg/g7h8Jc7Agt
Because open networks deserve open armor.
Field-test it. Modify it. Share it. This is yours.