[build log] Elements of Fortune, scratch build

Waaw xD it’s a long time ago since I posted an update !
Well, XS is not the only one … I have been busy for school and other stuff … so I didn’t have a lot of time to mod.

But – here I am back again, with lots of pictures and info

It’s time for a huge UPDATE !!! Elements of Fortune !!!

In the beginning of august, I bought some new tools for a good price.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07456.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07455.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07449.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07450.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07451.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07452.jpg

There goes my money :P blahblah, I’m happy ! At least I got some good quality tools now ;)

I also made some orders in China for LEDs and electronics, and I got some very nice stuff from MDPC-x.
And because pictures say more than 1000 words : tadaa

The package from China
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07589.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07591.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07595.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07597.jpg
PSUs

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07596.jpg
Little motors

And for these things, I also made a “cabinet” ? Well I mean a thing to store things :P

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07582.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07614.jpg

Kinda WaW huh !? :P This cabinet will be empty once I finished this mod ;)

And then another package from Germany…

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07258.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07264.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07260.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07263.jpg

Now this is quality stuff :o !! amazing

I will sleeve this 1200W PSU from BeQuiet and all the other cables that will be visible inside the project.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07357.jpg

-- aye – now all eyes back to the case

We continue from here:
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06897.jpg

Still remember it? Here we go
I continued with the bottom side of the case, the part where the hardware will fit in.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06952.jpg

Before that, I had no idea what colors I would be using. But when buying the sleeving and LEDs, I made a decision.

Colors will be: Black, white, orange and aluminum
The hardware components will be black/ orange / the cable-sleeving as well. :)

So I needed to find a color for the background … White !
To make a good white (and not gray looking background) I bought some white acrylic. Behind that white acrylic, I will use small White LEDs to give it a cool look.

Placing of the LEDs
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06953.jpg

Started to soldering
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06955.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06961.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06958.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06962.jpg

It’s still a dark look, so let’s begin with making the acrylic.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07359.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07361.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07368.jpg

It looks great when because it has a good contrast with the hardware ;)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07365.jpg

I’m not really satisfied with the result, So I will also make LEDs in the bottom.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07653.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07652.jpg
Don’t mind the rusty look, it will be painted :D

Without acrylic
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07659.jpg

With
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07660.jpg

Still looks a bit dark on the right side… that is because the background is black. I tested the difference with a white sheet of paper. Much better ;)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07664.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07667.jpg

But I’m not going to use paper … aluminum is a better quality material. And I will paint it white in the future.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07685.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07687.jpg

I used small bolts most of the places. Because they would dim the small LEDs.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07693.jpg

The other ones I gave a smooth finish :P
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07740.jpg

Meanwhile I also worked on the struts beneath the hardware layer.
Remember these?

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC06965.jpg

They will be blue – started with soldering

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07623.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07615.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07626.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07630.jpg

Still needs a lot of work, but this is the goal:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07629.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07639.jpg

The UV LEDs on top are fitted on the bottom plate. Ready and steady ^^

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07643.jpg

UV power ! Perfect angle for that eye-candy reservoir. (It doesn’t shine everywhere, only where needed)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07642.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07646.jpg

The eye-candy reservoir needs to look cool and shiny. After a while I decided not the use aluminum foil but a sheet of aluminum. This will be polished ;)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07682.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07683.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07684.jpg

---
So I started working again with the white acrylic.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07733.jpg

If you take a good look, you will see that I made place for the power supply unit.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07726.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07727.jpg

Whoooo that’s a close one! But it works ;) :)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07730.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07741.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07742.jpg

After filing and sanding …Looks good huh?

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07744.jpg

Aye, another bend

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07745.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07747.jpg

Yuppie, I made it ! :P me looking very happy because working with the acrylic is a tough job. But I’m starting to learning it ^^

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07754.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07757.jpg

But here we go again :P a small problem …

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07760.jpg

The power supply cable is a little bit bigger because it is a 1200W PSU…
ARGH !!!

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...2/DSC07761.jpg

I mailed to BeQuiet for finding a nice solution… If there isn’t a solution, I’ll make one myself :D
- make a 90° angle in the cable
- or make a gap in the frame so the cable would fit
- maybe something else I could do ? hmm

Well – more coming soon ;)
I think I continue working on the hard drive casings, and continue with the white acrylic.

cheers
Tom