Case Mods - New custom acrylic case -- Worklog to come

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09-03-2007, 05:13 PM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Movieman

I'm usually not a fan of acryllic cases but as the gentleman said above, this is a work of art and one can see the love that went into it..
Excellent work and a great read following this.:up:

Thanks man; I sure put a lot of time into this and I'm trying to get the details as perfect as I can.
09-03-2007, 05:15 PM
Movieman

Quote:

Originally Posted by radodrill

Thanks man; I sure put a lot of time into this and I'm trying to get the details as perfect as I can.

Beleive me, it shows. I'm a pretty decent cabinetmaker and I can see the work..;)
09-04-2007, 01:48 AM
it_burns_when_i_pee

you've but alot of patients and thought into it. even if its your first you can see your methodical approach is paying off.

i'm keeping an eye on this thread .... and im serious about offering your services out. could be a nice little side earner for you. cases over here sell upwards of £200 which is well over 400 dollors. for that kind of money i would want a custom case to my needs instead of all this empty room i wouldnt want.
09-04-2007, 03:01 AM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by it_burns_when_i_pee

you've but alot of patients and thought into it. even if its your first you can see your methodical approach is paying off.

i'm keeping an eye on this thread .... and im serious about offering your services out. could be a nice little side earner for you. cases over here sell upwards of £200 which is well over 400 dollors. for that kind of money i would want a custom case to my needs instead of all this empty room i wouldnt want.

I was chewing on ideas for a few months; then spent a few weeks modeling it in Pro/E before I even made a single cut.

I wanted such a big case so that it could easily handle H2O cooling and the latest super-long GFX cards while still giving me good access to the hardware. in my old case it's hard to swap a HDD without first removing the GFX card; and I find that unacceptable.
09-04-2007, 03:16 PM
mike8913

I absolutely love your build. Everything you've done has been so precise that it boggles the mind. The only gripe i can think of is that I would have preferred the HDD cage to have been reverse mounted to the back panel. So that you would have slid them into position on the connectors at the back panel and be viewing the "butt" of the HDD's from the side view.

just my personal preference, to each his own.
09-04-2007, 03:58 PM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike8913

I absolutely love your build. Everything you've done has been so precise that it boggles the mind. The only gripe i can think of is that I would have preferred the HDD cage to have been reverse mounted to the back panel. So that you would have slid them into position on the connectors at the back panel and be viewing the "butt" of the HDD's from the side view.

just my personal preference, to each his own.

I thought about that; but I think it looks better with all the retention screws on the same side of the drive bays.
09-09-2007, 08:54 PM
radodrill

Update (10-Sept-2007): Case Feet

Now for installing the case feet;

Marked the location of the 8 holes
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case-Feet1.jpg

Drilled the holes
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case-Feet2.jpg

Inserted the feet; nice snug fit so no glue necessary
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case-Feet3.jpg

Started the wiring for the LED illumination of the feet
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case-Feet4.jpg

Finished wiring the LEDs
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case-Feet5.jpg

Mounted the fan controller
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case5.jpg

Now a gallery of the (almost) finished case
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case6.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case7.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case8.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case9.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case10.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case11.jpg

I still have to install the CCFLs and H2O items as well as do the custom length wiring (and sleeving) of the fans. Once I get all the hardware into the case I'll do some tidying of the cabling. The one front panel that currently isn't hooked up will be used as eject/activity indicator for the CD drive.

Sponsors:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/A_C_Ryan.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/PTS.jpg
09-09-2007, 10:14 PM
Alik4041

Looks good. Can't wait to see it all lit up :D
09-10-2007, 05:23 AM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alik4041

Looks good. Can't wait to see it all lit up :D

Thanks; Once I get the lighting installed I'll get some good pics.
09-13-2007, 03:20 PM
radodrill

Update (13-Sept-2007): Sponsorship from DangerDen

W00T I received a sponsorship package from DangerDen Today.

Here are the goodies:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen1.jpg

2x Black Ice X-Flow Xtreme III radiators with 1/2" barbs
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen2.jpg

2x 8800 GTX/ULTRA waterblocks with stubby SLI barb and single-slot bracket
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen3.jpg

2x Brass Fill-ports, 24x Plastic snap hose clamps, and 20' 1/2" ID Tygon tubing
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen4.jpg

LGA775 TDX CPU block, i875 Maze4 chipset block, Maze4 Chipset block, Lucite 680i top for Maze4 blocks (not exactly sure which top is best for the southbridge of the DFI 680i; so DD was nice enough to send both tops so I can use what fits best)
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen5.jpg

Finally the variable speed D5 pump
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen6.jpg

I'll have more progress updates soon; Just wanted to share pics of the new gear.

Sponsors:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/A_C_Ryan.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/PTS.jpg
09-15-2007, 07:15 PM
radodrill

Update (15-Sept-2007): Watercooling

Installed the Radiators
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling1.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling2.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling4.jpg

Soon to be custom pump mounting bracket
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling5.jpg

Bent to shape
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling6.jpg

Added pump mounting holes
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling7.jpg

Finished bracket
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling8.jpg

Bracket attached to the pump
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...ercooling9.jpg

Pump and 1 fan installed in the case (also sleeved the wiring for them)
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...rcooling10.jpg

Sponsors:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/A_C_Ryan.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/PTS.jpg
09-15-2007, 07:30 PM
Alik4041

Quote:

Originally Posted by radodrill

[B]W00T I received a sponsorship package from DangerDen Today.

Here are the goodies:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen1.jpg

You deserve it, Nice job! :up: BTW, that pictures looks to die for :p: I wish I canwake up one day and have all that stuff at my door step :D
09-15-2007, 07:43 PM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alik4041

You deserve it, Nice job! :up: BTW, that pictures looks to die for :p: I wish I canwake up one day and have all that stuff at my door step :D

Thanks a lot; hopefully I can get some hardware sponsors as well.
09-16-2007, 11:22 AM
it_burns_when_i_pee

still looking really promising

i remember seeing this acrylic case a while back and the guy had watercooling fitted, so airflow not being a real essential he put loads of shower hoses - you know the metal ringed ones - throughout and illuminated green. reminded me of matrix somehow. anyway was a nice touch. perhaps you could do something like that?

also seen one where this guy painted all of his motherboard and video card with a clear uv reactive paint. it was on that overclockers.com website a good while back. that was nice too.
09-16-2007, 05:24 PM
radodrill

Update (16-Sept-2007): Watercooling

Mounted and sleeved the fans for the front RAD
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...rcooling11.jpg

Installed some of the tubing
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...rcooling12.jpg

Re-installed the drive bays; decided to go with frosted sides on the drive bays
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...rcooling13.jpg

Shot from the front to better show the run of tubing
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...rcooling14.jpg

Also tidied up the cabling for the front panel switches
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Cabling4.jpg

2 shots to give an idea how some of the lighting will look
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case12.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case13.jpg

Sponsors:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/A_C_Ryan.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/PTS.jpg
09-23-2007, 04:49 PM
radodrill

Update (23-Sept-2007): Fan installation

After testing the PWM fan controller with the Blackfire fans I realized that at low speeds the fans were "growling." By means of trial & error I discovered that if I replace the 0.1uF timing capacitor with a 100pF capacitor (raising the PWM frequency from 30Hz to 30KHz) the symptoms are resolved.

Here's the Baseboard after a few more coats of paint, sanding, and steel wool treatment.
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Base5.jpg

Finished installing the rest of the fans
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/100...rcooling15.jpg

Here are some gallery shots of the case; not that I've also installed a fill-port reservoir
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case14.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case15.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case16.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case17.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case18.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case19.jpg

Sponsors:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/A_C_Ryan.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/PTS.jpg
09-24-2007, 09:16 PM
iNF3rN0

omg... amazing... at first i was like "he doesnt need all that space" but then i see this and im like "k the extra space is going to good use" lol

sooo jealous right now... u dont even know...

Im gonna start my case mode soon. ive got th design down... but not the material usage yet. I wanna go stainless steel and acrylic... And the fact that im a Laser CNC operator is definatly gonna help me cause i suck with dremel lol
09-25-2007, 04:01 AM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by iNF3rN0

omg... amazing... at first i was like "he doesnt need all that space" but then i see this and im like "k the extra space is going to good use" lol

sooo jealous right now... u dont even know...

Im gonna start my case mode soon. ive got th design down... but not the material usage yet. I wanna go stainless steel and acrylic... And the fact that im a Laser CNC operator is definatly gonna help me cause i suck with dremel lol

Thanks a lot :)

I wish I had access to CNC tools (for that matter a full machine shop) :cool:
09-30-2007, 07:02 PM
radodrill

Update (30-Sept-2007): CCFL Lighting

Started installing the CCFL Lighting

What will become mounting plates for the CCFL inverters
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/CCFLs1.jpg

Drilled Screwholes
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/CCFLs2.jpg

Rounded the ends
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/CCFLs3.jpg

Polished them up
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/CCFLs4.jpg

Drilled & tapped screwholes in the MB Panel
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/CCFLs5.jpg

Secured the inverters
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/CCFLs6.jpg

Mounted the 4 CCFLs on the right side
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/CCFLs7.jpg

Secured the right-hand panel
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case20.jpg

Lighting on; dim ambient lighting
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case21.jpg

An assortment of shots in the dark
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case22.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case23.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case24.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case25.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case26.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case27.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case28.jpg

http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/Case29.jpg

I'm planning on having the case and hardware wrapped up by the end of the upcoming weekend; finishing up the baseboard may take a little longer though.

Sponsors:
http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/DangerDen.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/A_C_Ryan.jpg http://ocidb.com/albums/userpics/10005/PTS.jpg
10-01-2007, 02:46 AM
it_burns_when_i_pee

man, still looking good

only you need a better camera or learn to use the macro function. sort the focus, we cant see it's full glory
10-01-2007, 04:45 AM
Alik4041

Very nice. :up: And congratulations :D
http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2007...th_sept_2007/4
10-01-2007, 06:15 AM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alik4041

Very nice. :up: And congratulations :D
http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2007...th_sept_2007/4

Thanks; didn't realize I was up for MOTM at Bit-Tech
10-01-2007, 07:48 AM
radodrill

Nominated for September "Mod of the Month" at Bit-Tech

Thanks Bit-Tech for putting me in the running for the Mod of the Month competition for September 2007; I'm very honored.

Thanks to the community here (and the other forums where this log is posted) for your support

Also, Thanks to DangerDen, A.C.Ryan, and Petra's Tech Shop for their help and sponsorship
10-01-2007, 03:24 PM
radodrill

Quote:

Originally Posted by it_burns_when_i_pee

man, still looking good

only you need a better camera or learn to use the macro function. sort the focus, we cant see it's full glory

It's a Sony DSC-F828; maybe the shutter speed is a bit slow for handheld use; for the final shots I'll be using a tripod :)
10-01-2007, 07:49 PM
Cpl Ledanek

Quote:

Originally Posted by radodrill

It's a Sony DSC-F828; maybe the shutter speed is a bit slow for handheld use; for the final shots I'll be using a tripod :)

...just a suggestion: set your camera to Macro + play with ISO 400-600 without flash (if there is enough ambient light), set timer to 10 sec on tripod or bag of coffee beans or green peas (conforms better to whatever angle you want)
...looking forward to next pics:up:

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