How Ariel Studio Builds a Noctua-Style ZimaBoard 2 NAS Case

Thank you to Ariel Studio for sharing a Noctua-inspired enclosure build for a ZimaBoard 2 NAS. The project moves from a working storage assembly to a modeled case, printed parts, fan wiring, and a first look at ZimaOS. You can watch the original YouTube video on the creator’s channel.

Watch before reading: This walkthrough is useful if you want a custom NAS enclosure and care about both its appearance and how you will maintain it. In about 20 minutes, Ariel Studio explains the design decisions before assembling the case and configuring storage. Read on for the connection between the physical build and its role as a second storage destination.

The useful result is a custom enclosure around a separate backup NAS. Ariel Studio keeps the existing Synology system as the main home for working files and builds this machine as an additional destination and a place to experiment. The video demonstrates design and assembly choices; it does not establish long-term backup reliability or a measured thermal advantage over an open board.

Start with the backup role, then design around the hardware

The creator’s starting point is an existing Synology DS923+ that holds video footage, photographs, and other working material. Keeping that primary system stable is the reason for building a second machine. The ZimaBoard 2 mini home server is fitted with two 8TB drives, giving the case a real assembly to accommodate rather than an abstract board outline.

Ariel Studio models the assembled hardware before designing the outer shell. That sequence matters: drive bodies, mounting hardware, connector positions, and the space needed to insert a cable all influence the enclosure. For your own version, check the exact drives and cables you will use before committing to a full print. A shell that fits the board can still make drive replacement unnecessarily difficult.

Turn the Noctua palette into a serviceable case

The beige and brown finish draws on Noctua’s visual style and a mouse design the creator uses as inspiration. The more useful details are structural: a handle, side openings, a sliding assembly with retention, and a rear fan mount held by magnets. The removable rear section creates access to the connections instead of permanently trapping them behind the fan.

The underside includes a route for cables and recessed positions for feet. Those features connect appearance to daily use: cables leave at the back, while the feet help position the enclosure on the desk. Before copying the design, check that your own cable plugs clear the channel and that removing a drive does not pull on a connected lead.

Plan airflow and material choices together

The design places two small Noctua fans at the front and a larger fan at the rear. Ariel Studio also incorporates a 2.8-inch display and demonstrates a fan controller with a temperature sensor. These are parts of this particular build; the controller and display are additional components, rather than features supplied by every ZimaBoard 2.

For a similar enclosure, confirm fan voltage, connector wiring, and controller compatibility against the exact parts you buy. The Noctua fan catalog is a starting point for checking the chosen models. Once the enclosure is closed, observe CPU and drive temperatures during a sustained file transfer. Fan count and perceived quietness alone do not show that every component receives enough airflow.

Ariel Studio uses the matching Prusament color palette and discusses preparing the filament before printing. The Prusa PLA material guide is useful when deciding whether the appearance and temperature limitations of PLA suit your enclosure. Choose print preparation and drying settings for the actual spool rather than copying settings mentioned for a different material.

Check the print before installing the storage assembly

The finished print is not presented as flawless. Ariel Studio points out under-extruded areas and describes the cost in time and material of producing the large shell. That is a useful reminder to print a small fit sample first: a latch, a fan opening, or a short section of the sliding interface can reveal a tolerance problem before an entire enclosure is made.

Inspect the features that carry weight or hold the assembly in position before loading the drives. If a fastening point or handle is visibly weak, correct the print before relying on it. The video’s assembly sequence is a reference for the creator’s hardware, while the fit and strength of another print still depend on its material, settings, and dimensions.

Finish with a storage destination you can verify

Near the end, Ariel Studio powers the machine, connects it to the network, and opens the Zima Client and ZimaOS setup. The discussion includes using the two drives with mirrored capacity and backing up the existing NAS. A mirror can help with a drive failure, but it does not create an independent historical backup: deletion or unwanted changes can affect both sides.

Before scheduling a large transfer, confirm the destination, copy a small folder, and restore a file to another location. Decide whether the backup should retain older versions and how you will protect another copy from a failure affecting both machines. The ZimaOS 3-2-1 backup guide provides a framework for that decision. For a separate beginner-focused setup sequence, see Smart Life’s ZimaBoard 2 private cloud walkthrough.

The practical first milestone is a case that fits, remains accessible, and stays within the limits of the installed components, followed by a backup you can restore. Add other applications after that job works. Return to Ariel Studio’s complete Noctua-style NAS case build for the original modeling, printing, and assembly sequence.