The Raspberry Pi is a versatile and affordable computer that has gained immense popularity among DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists, and educators. Its compact size and low power consumption make it an ideal choice for building portable devices. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of creating your own handheld Raspberry Pi 3 portable computer, complete with a touchscreen display, battery, and custom casing. Let's get started!

Gathering the Components

Before we dive into the assembly process, here's a list of components you'll need for this project:

1. Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

2. 5-inch HDMI touchscreen display

3. Micro SD card (16 GB recommended) with Raspbian OS installed

4. USB keyboard and mouse (for initial setup)

5. 5V/2.5A power supply

6. 3D printed case (or any other suitable enclosure)

7. 5V/2A USB power bank (preferably with a slim design)

8. Jumper wires, screws, and other miscellaneous hardware

Assembling the Handheld Raspberry Pi 3 Portable Computer

Step 1: Setting Up the Raspberry Pi

First, insert the micro SD card with Raspbian OS installed into the Raspberry Pi. Connect the USB keyboard and mouse, and then connect the 5V/2.5A power supply to power up the Raspberry Pi. You should see the Raspbian desktop on your connected monitor. Configure the Wi-Fi settings and update the system using the following commands in the terminal:

sudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get upgrade

Step 2: Connecting the Touchscreen Display

Disconnect the power supply from the Raspberry Pi. Now, connect the 5-inch HDMI touchscreen display to the Raspberry Pi using the HDMI connector and the GPIO pins. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the correct pin connections. Power up the Raspberry Pi again, and you should see the Raspbian desktop on the touchscreen display.

Step 3: Configuring the Touchscreen Display

To configure the display settings, open the terminal and enter the following commands:

sudo nano /boot/config.txt

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

hdmi_group=2hdmi_mode=87hdmi_cvt=800 480 60 6 0 0 0

Save the changes and exit the editor. Reboot the Raspberry Pi with the following command:

sudo reboot

Now, the touchscreen display should be correctly configured.

Step 4: Attaching the Power Bank

To make the Raspberry Pi portable, we will use a 5V/2A USB power bank. Connect the power bank to the Raspberry Pi's micro USB port using a USB cable. Make sure the power bank is fully charged before proceeding.

Step 5: Assembling the Case

Now that all the components are connected and functional, it's time to assemble the case. If you have a 3D printer, you can design and print a custom case to fit the Raspberry Pi, touchscreen display, and power bank. Alternatively, you can use any suitable enclosure that can accommodate all the components securely.

Place the Raspberry Pi and touchscreen display inside the case, ensuring that all ports and connectors are accessible. Secure the components using screws or adhesive, as appropriate. Finally, attach the power bank to the case, preferably on the backside, to maintain a slim profile.

Testing and Using Your Handheld Raspberry Pi 3 Portable Computer

With everything assembled, your handheld Raspberry Pi 3 portable computer is ready for use! Power up the device by turning on the power bank, and you should see the Raspbian desktop on the touchscreen display. You can now use the on-screen keyboard or connect a Bluetooth keyboard for typing.

Your handheld Raspberry Pi 3 portable computer can be used for a wide range of applications, such as browsing the web, playing games, programming, and more. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. So go ahead, explore the world of Raspberry Pi, and create amazing projects with your new portable computer!