[Project] Zodiac

Lots of changes have happened throughout this mod, but I decided to leave all of the original pics attached for a more natural progression. If you see something missing in a later photo, it likely got axed. :)

I'm not going to clutter the the first post with a whole bunch of stock
rocketfish pics, if you aren't sure what they look like, or would like
a bit of history relating to the "famous" rocketfish case, just type
"rocketfish" in the search. :P

So, lets jump right in. :)

System specs:

E4600
Gigabyte P35-DS3L
EVGA 9800GTX
4Gb G.skill
WD 250Gb SE16
Sony/NEC DVD-RW
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
DDC3.2/MCP355 w/XSPC top
Swiftech MCR320
CPU GPU cooling- custom waterblocks


Here is my case with the front door and floppy bay removed. I also
removed the USB/headphone jacks from the top of the case. I am going
to switch that PSU out for a PCP&C version because it has two PCIE
connectors.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00001.jpg


Since the 3.5 bay is gone, I'm going to remove a section to help
with ventilation.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00002.jpg


The same section needs to be removed from the inner front panel.
Also seen here, Pnuematic nibbler and the "belt sander gun" as I
like to call it. Modder's best friends. Invest in these puppies,
and cutting window/radiator holes will turn from minutes into seconds.
I am very grateful that I have access to this equipment at my work, and
that my boss is generous enough to let me use it. :)
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00003.jpg


After cutting. You can see I didn't do a perfect job but it won't matter
in this case.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00004.jpg


Some mesh added to the hole
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00005.jpg


I made up a nice little aluminum grille for the inner front panel
using the punch and shear(the two will be pictured later).
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00006.jpg


There is a bracket between the hard drives and motherboard tray that
adds quite a bit of strength to the case. I want to make a nice divider,
but still retain this feature some way.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00007.jpg


Here is the aluminum sheet sheared to size and drilled out for some
UV Leds. You can see the bend lines marked in red.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00008.jpg


Here is the metal about to be bent on the brake.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00009.jpg


Perfect fit! :D I love it when that happens, especially because screwing
up means buying more metal.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00010.jpg


I hot-glued the UV Leds in the holes on the back of the cover, and wired
them up with a molex connector.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00011.jpg


Testing. :)
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00012.jpg


I was going for the clean look, I think it turned out pretty well.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00013.jpg


I used the same mounting holes as the previous bracket to hold in the
so the cover ends up handily serving a dual-purpose.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00014.jpg

Today is radiator grille day. Here is a sheet of .080" 6061 alumiunum fixtured on the mill.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00015.jpg


After cutting, I deburred the edges with a scraper and a file, and then softened everything
with a handy scotch-brite pad.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00016.jpg


While the grille was on the CNC, I cut out the blank for the upper Led lighting, and drilled it.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00017.jpg


Here it is after being bent on the brake, hot-glued, wired, and molex'd.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00018.jpg


I decided to switch PSU's real quick, so I went ahead and put in some cable management
holes using a step bit and electrician's knockout punches.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00019.jpg


The cable management turned out looking excellent. :D
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00020.jpg


I think I deserve a bit of gaming after all this work, so I will be taking a break for a few
days. :)
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00021.jpg

sounds like we got an interesting thread starting here Ian, subscribed! :)

If you look at the second to last picture in the previous post,
you can see the rectangular hole I nibbled out in the top front of the case.
It will contain a control panel with the relocated power buttons and
a slightly chopped Scythe Kaze Master fan controller. This is the display after programming the CNC:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00022.jpg


I sheared the plate with the angle cuts, and then clamped it into the vise
for machining. This is after a quick beadblast; I'm just about to engrave
the labels for the buttons and knobs.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00023.jpg


After engraving and another light beadblast.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00024.jpg


I machined a bit out from the back of the power and reset button tabs to make them a
little more flexible.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00025.jpg


After painting; I rather like the way this turned out.

Here's a whole bunch of shots:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00026.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00028.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00029.jpg


With the lights on:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Image00030.jpg



The "HDD" label in the control panel will have a small hole drilled above it for a small
piece of fiber optic leading to an LED. I will detail that later in the worklog, along with pictures
of how I mounted the Kaze master.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Logos4

sounds like we got an interesting thread starting here Ian, subscribed! :)

---

It is actually finished already, I am transferring my worklog over from another forum right now. :)

BIG CHANGES

So, first off, I need to update the system specs.

-The E4600 was switched out for an E7200
-Gigabyte P35 DS3L switched for DFI Lanparty P35 Dark
-G.Skill switched out for 4gb OCZ Reaper HPC

I was busy for a couple weeks, and had some time to review the work I had already completed, and make plans for the rest of the build. I scrapped a few things, and replaced them with newer, better things.

The top power button/fan control panel is gone, and the 2 channel 3.5" Kaze master has been switched out for the 4-channel 5.25" version. Originall channel 1 was going to be the rad, and channel 2 was going to be the intake and exhaust fans.

Now it will be-

-Channel 1, radiator
-Ch 2, Front intake (Upper case section)
-Ch 3, Front intake (HDD/PSU bay)
-Ch 4, Rear exhaust

After deciding on my design changes, the first order of business was to remove those pesky 5.25" drive bays. Who needs em?
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200005.jpg


Since I removed the drive bays I'll need somewhere to put the DVD drive amirite? It will be hidden under an upper shroud that covers the radiator and DVD, which matches the lower shroud which covers the HDD's/PSU.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200013.jpg


I used the same techniques shown earlier in the worklog for the lower shroud. Brake, shear, drill, mill, punch, etc. Show here is the mounting bracket for the DVD drive.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200007.jpg


Mounting bracket installed.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200009.jpg


Another view.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200011.jpg


While I was working on measurements I set the CNC to work on a nice solid brass top for my DDC pump.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3601.jpg


Hehe, sweetness. :D
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3610.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3611.jpg


Here are a couple pics I snapped after I got home (*not shown* I set the upper shoud up on the CNC and cut the fan/tubing holes for the rad):
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mp/case004.jpg


This shows the location of the DVD drive.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mp/case005.jpg


Dayuum! That's a tight fit!
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200017.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200018.jpg


KITTY!
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../kittys019.jpg

Setting up the blank for the front trim panel on the CNC
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200002.jpg


While I was waiting for the part to come off the CNC I tore the case down and hot-glued some screen into the upper cover as a dust filter. You can also see in the back where I removed the stock grille area to make way for an access panel, this will (hopefully) allow me to better work on my loop without having to remove the radiator.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3617.jpg


Part is done!
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mage200001.jpg


I mounted the two front intakes. I also removed the 2nd HDD bay to make room for the pump. In the front you can see where I modded the stock audio jacks from the top of the case into easy reach on the side. As you can see I am also working on the cable management.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3623.jpg


Here's a close up with the wiring in place.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3630.jpg

*Not Shown* I took the measurements for the Scythe 5.25" Kaze master and cut the appropriate holes, then stripped the fan controller down to the circuit board so I could stealth mount it.


Front trim panel w/fan controller after painting:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3619.jpg



Here's some pics I took after I got home:


Kaze Master ablaze in all its glory.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3627.jpg


Closeup of audio/USB jacks. I used a roper whitney hand punch to make the holes, and used the stock screws to attach the jacks through the panel.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3636.jpg


Here's the first pic so far in the log with my new mobo/cpu/ram, and improved cable management. Looks pretty snazzy IMO.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...p/IMG_3633.jpg

Here's where I go a bit out of bounds:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...mp2/fri001.jpg


I cut a piece of thin plywood to size with the bandsaw, and made cutouts for the sata connectors and power cable, then smoothed them with this little drum sander.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final003.jpg


Here I marked and drilled a few notable constellations.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final004.jpg


Wig making, case modding, it's all the same amirite?
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final006.jpg


Here's all the fibers glued in place and tied down. You can see the white LED illuminator bundle I made on the left. I filled up a piece of heatshrink with epoxy, and then jammed the LED's and Fiber optic bundle into each end, then heat cured it.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final011.jpg


Back shot lit on the test bench
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final016.jpg


Front
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final017.jpg


Mars, Earth and Venus (aka Ping pong ball and round beads painted with UV paint)
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final026.jpg


I will attach them to the star panel using some epoxy and .035" welding wire, heres the supports for the Earth and the Moon.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final027.jpg


Using the handy-dandy micro spot welder to attach the two:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final028.jpg


Sweet.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final029.jpg


I glued the wire in with epoxy, and painted it black with some flat black spray paint and a q-tip.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final031.jpg


While I waited for the epoxy to cure, I started on a shroud for the reservoir. I ended up cutting the ears off because they ended up being ugly when it was all bent up.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final055.jpg


Couple shots with the shroud in place and the planets attached:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final101.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final107.jpg

yeah I know, I was just thinking about upcoming comments and questions about your work ;) Gotta go eat something now, will take a closer look after that...

FINISHED (well, almost anyways)!

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final060.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final061.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final062.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final093.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final098.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final110.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final111.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final088.jpg


Can you pick out the three constellations?
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final077.jpg


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_final082.jpg


Oops, almost forgot the most important part, Z for "Zodiac", so now it is officially "complete". Too bad I couldn't get a decent picture (I'm stuck at home and the lighting is much better at the shop... darned deadline). :rolleyes:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...P/IMG_3883.jpg

Awesome work.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by [XC] Kayin

Awesome work.

---

Finishing this thing in time for the deadline was the main reason I have been taking so long on your block. :(


I was going to head over to the shop right now but we somehow managed to get VIP passes at the Toby Keith concert last night, and included were many, many beer tickets. I hurt all over.

Wow your work is simply amazing. My next rig will probably just like yours simple hardware but maximum case modding :up:.

Love the detail of your work; very nice and clean :up: btw how is that loop go?

...back...just a very beautiful case; I wonder how many hours you've spent on that. I like the finish very much: front panel, top...just amazing. Yep, I'm definitely fond of that front panel with the integrated mesh grills :clap:

...and yes, forgot to mention the power/reset plate :up:

doesn't have the most high end parts, but it's so creative! where did you find/get those UV LED's? and i noticed you whole worklog within the time frame of only a few hours haha

Fantastic build, top notch workmanship.

Awesome job!
This is what happens when skills meets tools: what a great case.
Congrats to you iandh. Now go work on our 4870 ramsinks ;)

Thanks all!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pellepel

Wow your work is simply amazing. My next rig will probably just like yours simple hardware but maximum case modding :up:.

Love the detail of your work; very nice and clean :up: btw how is that loop go?

---

The pump is hanging underneath the res, so pump-gpu-cpu-rad-res

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WhiteFireDragon

doesn't have the most high end parts, but it's so creative! where did you find/get those UV LED's? and i noticed you whole worklog within the time frame of only a few hours haha

---

I got a pack of 50 from ebay for like 8 bux. WAY better than CCL's imo, but a bit of a pain to install. I can't stand the high pitched whine the CCL transformers make... some can hear it and some can't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by leo_bsb

Awesome job!
This is what happens when skills meets tools: what a great case.
Congrats to you iandh. Now go work on our 4870 ramsinks ;)

---

Yep, if you have the right tools you are already halfway there. :up:

I actually am working on the 4870 sinks right now. :)

I'll be updating this worklog when I get my 4870 installed.

My God, its beautiful.

those LED's are inspiring me to throw out my UV cathodes since they take up so much room for wiring and converters. would i need to also get resistors for these LED's or do they come with them? and can you link the exact item number on ebay so i can see the specs? here are some i picked out so can you tell me which one is best (ebay item numbers):

1) 290245212128
2) 280245685872
3) 370068346503

{Insert jealousy here}

Not gonna lie dude..



... WOW! :up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cptn Vortex

My God, its beautiful.

---

indeed!

very very very very nice work:clap:

:up:

lovely build iandh MDPC candidate for sure.

How do you like that dfi board?

Wow, impressive.

About UV leds. U can get plenty for cheap here and they can run straight of 3.3v:
http://www.ledshoppe.com/led5mm.htm
I dont know how good they are but they are dirt cheap. And its free shipping too. Ive used the store several times, no problems.

Edit: I have 100 uv, 100 blue and 100 white on the way...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eXa

Wow, impressive.

About UV leds. U can get plenty for cheap here and they can run straight of 3.3v:
http://www.ledshoppe.com/led5mm.htm
I dont know how good they are but they are dirt cheap. And its free shipping too. Ive used the store several times, no problems.

Edit: I have 100 uv, 100 blue and 100 white on the way...

---

how would you connect it to the 3.3v rail of the PSU? wouldn't it be a better choice to get resistors with those so you can connect it to the primary 12v rail? those are cheap but they dont include the resistors :[

very nice .. very creative! :up:

wow that is brilliant, damn lucky to have all the tools needed to rule the world. :up:

yup, if i had this many tools, especially a CNC machine, i would make/mod cases all day...

damn good eye for details! :up:

Okay, that's just....sick. Good job.

Awesome work man!


Also, 4870 heatsinks? Seriously? I'd kill someone for those if you made 'em.

Wow, that looks amazing. Wish I had a machine shop to do work in. Must come in handy for lots 'O things....

later,
breezyjr

amazing metal work.. beautifulll

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by disruptfam

lovely build iandh MDPC candidate for sure.

How do you like that dfi board?

---

Hopefully, I don't know if I have the camera/photo skills for MDPC atm though. :p:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by evil-98

wow that is brilliant, damn lucky to have all the tools needed to rule the world. :up:

---

One day, maybe. One day. :shrug:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WhiteFireDragon

yup, if i had this many tools, especially a CNC machine, i would make/mod cases all day...

---

Unfortunately my day job gets in the way. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by oerekum

Awesome work man!


Also, 4870 heatsinks? Seriously? I'd kill someone for those if you made 'em.

---

They will be done in about a week, so instead of murder you may visit Petra's tech or Sidewinder computers :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RealRedRaider

You never cease to amaze...

Now my son has the impression I'll be able to create a build like this for him later on this year....yeah right...

Keep up the GREAT WORK... :up:

---

Just make buddy buddy with a local machine shop. :)

Hell, I found a guy down the street that will give an entire night of machine time for a 20pk of Coors light. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WhiteFireDragon

how would you connect it to the 3.3v rail of the PSU? wouldn't it be a better choice to get resistors with those so you can connect it to the primary 12v rail? those are cheap but they dont include the resistors :[

---

Well... hook it up directly to the 3.3v line in the psu. either inside the psu or the 24pin cable coming from the psu. If ut going to solder that many leds, soldering 1 wire wont be hard.

Dont those resistors get kinda hot when they are burning away thoose 8.7v?
quite alot of them too....

Love the attention to detail! :clap: Wish I had those facilities at my disposal. :rolleyes: So many ideas, so little equipment....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eXa

Well... hook it up directly to the 3.3v line in the psu. either inside the psu or the 24pin cable coming from the psu. If ut going to solder that many leds, soldering 1 wire wont be hard.

Dont those resistors get kinda hot when they are burning away thoose 8.7v?
quite alot of them too....

---

I could possibly run up to 3-4 LED's from one resistor, but I like to play it safe. Basically you take the current rating of the LED and get a resistor with the proper resistance, and a high enough rated wattage. The higher the rated wattage, the cooler the resistor will run, and the longer it theoretically should last.

yes definitely need to befriend someone with those kinds of tools...

very nice work Iandh, definitely eye catching...

Lovely build there :)

Yes, with the right set of tools, modding is a real breeze. I had access to almost that sort of tools when I was studying to be a airplane machinist ( I stopped to go into programming instead after 1 year).

Amazing build, awesome fiber optics work!

what forum is this original worklog from? i'd like to follow up on the original as well

submitted link to this thread @:
http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/

I think you deserve it ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Logos4

submitted link to this thread @:
http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/

I think you deserve it ;)

---

already did

no luck

Thanks guys, I'd love a feature in mdpc, but honestly my feelings won't be too hurt if they don't want me. :p:

They seem to have a very certain style which is considered to be "million dollar". Not that I have a problem with that though... the outside of my case matches it but the inside may be a bit too fruity.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iandh

Thanks guys, I'd love a feature in mdpc, but honestly my feelings won't be too hurt if they don't want me. :p:

They seem to have a very certain style which is considered to be "million dollar". Not that I have a problem with that though... the outside of my case matches it but the inside may be a bit too fruity.

---

I say ditch the the cat and the galaxy, improve sleeving and you will defintly get your on space on MDPC.

--

Now seriesly, dont do it(exept for the cat part :p:). its perfect.

excellent job
one of the best, if not the best, mod I have ever seen

Made front page on thebestcasescenario.com !

:D

nice!!!

Wish i had a CNC machine. Beautiful metal work Ian

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iandh

Made front page on thebestcasescenario.com !

:D

---

hey that's cool to see your case there :up: also thanks because I didn't know TBCS ;)
(also put two pics of it on my blog, linking to your XS worklog)