Bloxwap ships on iOS, Android, and the web. Behind those apps is a fleet of Mac minis running our GitHub Actions jobs: tests, production bundles, native exports, and release tooling.
Those machines need a home. A compact rack gives each Mac a fixed place, keeps cables accessible, and makes it easier to add another group of build machines. Here's a three-Mac rack layout using the parts in our cluster build list.
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purchases. The Amazon product links below are affiliate links using our
bloxwap-20 tag. The Etsy mount is a separate purchase.
The parts for one three-Mac rack
These quantities describe one rack module, so you can scale the layout to your own build queue.
| Part | Quantity | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Mac mini (M6) on Amazon | 3 computers | Independent build machines |
| GeeekPi 6U 10-inch rack on Amazon | 1 rack | The frame for the build |
| Print3DSteve three-Mac 3U mount on Etsy | 1 mount | Holds the three computers in the rack |
| GeeekPi 1U brush cable manager on Amazon | 1 panel | A pass-through for cables |
| GeeekPi vented 2U panels on Amazon | 1 two-pack; use 1 panel | Fills the remaining 2U; keep the second panel as a spare |
| Goalfish 1-foot power cord on Amazon | 3 cords | Short power runs, one per Mac |
You'll also need Ethernet cables, a network connection or switch, suitable power distribution, and rack fasteners. Choose the Mac's memory and storage for the jobs you plan to run; the link is a starting point for selecting a configuration.
How the rack fits together
The frame is the DeskPi RackMate T1/2 Plus, a 6U rack for 10-inch equipment with a listed depth of 10.23 inches (260 mm). Keep the mounting accessories at the same 10-inch width when choosing parts.
The height allocation is straightforward: 3U for the Mac mount + 1U for the brush panel + 2U for one vented panel = 6U. The panel listing supplies two 2U pieces, but this layout uses only one.
Give the Macs a fixed place
Print3DSteve's Etsy mount holds three Mac minis in a single 3U assembly. The seller lists compatibility with the 2024 and 2026 machines and prints the mount in PETG. Rack fasteners are supplied separately.
Install the mount securely, then check access to each computer's ports and power button. Leave the computers' ventilation openings clear and enough space behind the rack for connectors and cable bends.
Keep the cable runs short and accessible
The brush panel gives cables a defined path through the rack. Label both ends of each Ethernet cable and power cord with the machine's name so you can disconnect one node without tracing every cable.
The linked Goalfish power cord is 1 foot (0.3 m) long, with an 18 AWG cable and a 7 A, 125 V rating. Measure the route to your power outlets before choosing a length, and confirm the connector and electrical rating match your equipment and local supply. Short cables help only when they reach without tension.
Leave room for air to move
The vented panel fills the remaining rack space without a solid blank face. Its listing also provides mounting positions for 7 cm or 8 cm fans. A fan requires a separate selection and power connection; the panel alone provides no powered airflow.
Check the layout under a sustained build workload, with cables in their final positions, before treating it as finished.
Turn the computers into a build fleet
Each Mac executes jobs independently from a shared queue. More nodes give the queue more places to run work; each individual job still needs enough memory, storage, and CPU capacity on its assigned machine.
For our workflows, the useful setup is:
- Prepare each Mac consistently. Install the tools your jobs need, including Xcode for native iOS work, and give every machine a clear name.
- Register the GitHub Actions runners in a dedicated group. Route the workflows to that group so machines can join or leave the fleet without editing every job.
- Pin the build tools. Select Node, Bun, and other tool versions in the workflow rather than depending on whichever version happens to be global.
- Manage the persistent state. Give jobs separate scratch directories, clean up after them, and cap concurrent builds that compete for resources.
Measure the whole job as well as its individual stages: dependency restores, compilation, tests, and artifact uploads. A fast build can still leave you waiting on a large transfer. Use those measurements to decide whether the next improvement is another Mac, more storage, a cache change, or less work in the pipeline.
The parts table above is the starting point for building the rack. Open the Amazon links to choose the right variants and quantities for your setup, and order the three-Mac mount separately from Print3DSteve on Etsy.