Custom Cube Case (Scratch Build)

[skinnee]

Everytime I look at this thread I find another little detail that impresses the hell out of me. Again, nice work zuess!

[bianco]

amazing workmanship zuess
envy the tools and especially the skills.
sub'd

[man_bear_pig]

Very nice, and as soon as i get a mobo I am gonna be doing my own case as well. Awesome work!

[zuess]

That res sure is neat, but I'm also bit worried about that tape's strength.

I have tried to remove the reservior from the 4mm plexi, it wont budge.
This 3M tape is like silicone and once it sets for a few hours it's there for good.

Everytime I look at this thread I find another little detail that impresses the hell out of me. Again, nice work zuess!

Thanks skinnee.

amazing workmanship zuess
envy the tools and especially the skills.
sub'd

Thanks bianco, you have great skills yourself.

[silverphoenix]

yep that tape is good for almost anything. I use a non transparent vs that is 5lb rated and is moisture proof it's used for holding on moldings to the exterior of cars so yeah these things hold well. I think MNPCtech uses the 2lb version he has to hold their case windows together.

[zuess]

1 of 2 hard drive brackets I made, painted this one black.



Installed the window to check the fit before removing the protective paper.



Removed the protective paper on the window, you can see the other hard drive brackets i made, I don't have any pics of the drive brackets as they were being made.







Here's the fan covers i will be using, from Performance-Pc's.



Stainless steel power and reset switches.





Bleeding the air out.

Hope you liked the pic's, it's time to begin installing the hardware.
Update soon.

[silverphoenix]

Wow this turned out really nice!!

I especially love your resevoir idea. I've wanted one of those but the aluminum was always a turn off and the delrin versions have this weird bubble window I don't want. If I wasn't moving my case often I would so build one similar to yours.

[bianco]

[

nice update zuess.
did you paint the uv light's inverter (if that's what it is) black? or was it already black?

[leo_bsb]

you should try to find another res.
Your case doesn't deserve those 90º elbows on the res.
Ask cyberdruid!

[zuess]

Wow this turned out really nice!!

I especially love your resevoir idea. I've wanted one of those but the aluminum was always a turn off and the delrin versions have this weird bubble window I don't want. If I wasn't moving my case often I would so build one similar to yours.

Thanks silverphoenix, Your right about the delrin version having a bubble hole which I don't like myself and I haven't seen one with a flat acrylic window.
Besides that by the time the mount and tube get to my door here in Canada it would likely set me back a good $120 or more, I just used a cut off piece of aluminum so it only cost me the cost of the Micro-Res $20.

nice update zuess.
did you paint the uv light's inverter (if that's what it is) black? or was it already black?

Thanks bianco, yes i just painted it black as opposed to leaving it that stupid blue shade.
I mean who has a case with a blue interior.

you should try to find another res.
Your case doesn't deserve those 90º elbows on the res.
Ask cyberdruid!

I know what you mean i need another more free flowing solution to the Koolance fittings, I've read that the new BitsPower Rotary fittings are less restrictive so I'll grab some when ncix.com gets them is stock.

I will also be using 2 Swiftech D5 vario pumps since I had a bad experience with one failing and the PC shut down on me.

zuess

[man_bear_pig]

Just wondering what the weight was up to on that cube now?

[zuess]

Just wondering what the weight was up to on that cube now?

Well I'm not to sure on the weight but my guess would be about 10 kilos or 22lbs.

I just received a disappointing email today, I have been looking to have the case Anodized black.
One company gave me a quote of $125.00 over the phone, but later emailed to say that they couldn't anodize parts larger than 18"

[man_bear_pig]

Thats a bummer, hope you can find somewhere that is reasonable to get it done. I would have to put a custom paint job on that. Your metal work is top notch, and me thinks you are a sheet metal mechanic.

[crazy1323]

Why not powder coat the case rather than anodize it?

[Eddie3dfx]

I've anodized a bicycle frame before, but for a case, I'd rather powdercoat it just in case of scratches.

in order to get it really anodized nice, you need to sand your case to pristine flawless condition before it's ripe for anodizing.

[bianco]

Thanks bianco, yes i just painted it black as opposed to leaving it that stupid blue shade.
I mean who has a case with a blue interior.
zuess

haha. good idea and thanks zuess.
good luck on your hunt for the case paint!
make sure they don't paint the interior blue...

[Lagaaja]

Ok, glad to hear that tape works out great. Can't wait to see this monster finished!

[BlueAqua]

Wow, I just caught this thread, how did I miss it?

Very nice work. This case has so many nice features! Great craftsmanship to boot.

[zuess]

Thats a bummer, hope you can find somewhere that is reasonable to get it done. I would have to put a custom paint job on that. Your metal work is top notch, and me thinks you are a sheet metal mechanic.

Thanks for your comments, I was looking to have it powder coated until I seen RealRedRaider's buildlog.
He had MountainMods finish his case in a black brushed anodizing and it looks great.

No I'm no sheet metal mechanic but, for 3 years I worked for a custom steel fabricator as the shop supervisor and the mechanical designer.

Why not powder coat the case rather than anodize it?

Powder coating is nice but i am concerned with orange peel if it's not done right, but i guess i could always paint over it.

I've anodized a bicycle frame before, but for a case, I'd rather powdercoat it just in case of scratches.

in order to get it really anodized nice, you need to sand your case to pristine flawless condition before it's ripe for anodizing.

Did you have it brushed anodized or just color anodized?
I wouldn't have to much work to prepare it for anodizing as i wet sanded all the edges inside the fan holes and anything that came it touch with my jigsaw.

Ok, glad to hear that tape works out great. Can't wait to see this monster finished!

Thanks, I wouldn't want to have to take it anywhere, without a forklift truck.

Wow, I just caught this thread, how did I miss it?

Very nice work. This case has so many nice features! Great craftsmanship to boot.

Thanks BlueAqua, I've spent a few hours looking at your buildlog and have to say it's looking so good.
I love your double impact cpu block, super quality.
If I can ask you how is the finish on your case, are you really happy with the powder coating?

[BlueAqua]

Thanks BlueAqua, I've spent a few hours looking at your buildlog and have to say it's looking so good.
I love your double impact cpu block, super quality.
If I can ask you how is the finish on your case, are you really happy with the powder coating?

My MM's UFO is a nice gloss black powder coat, and I like it a lot. It's very shiny and pretty tough. It waxes up nicely too. Yes, I wax my computer cases if possible.
My V2000 is automotive grade paint and has different characteristics than the powder coat. It's quite nice, I really love it.

Either way, you can't lose. I would paint over anodizing though if you have any imperfections in the aluminum. Powder coating seems pretty popular these days too.

What do you have in mind for paint?

[Eddie3dfx]

Hmm.. not sure what the difference is between brush and colored, but whatever the basic one is, I got it anodized in blue.

If you can get it sanded to flawless condition, then get it anodized.
If not, go for powdercoating as it also looks gorgeous.

On a bike, powdercoating is pointless, as it adds weight. Anodizing added 3grams to my bike frame (I weighed it

Just make sure there are no rivets, as it will melt any steel. That being said, your case is absolutely amazing. I would love to be as handy and precise as you are

[zuess]

My MM's UFO is a nice gloss black powder coat, and I like it a lot. It's very shiny and pretty tough. It waxes up nicely too. Yes, I wax my computer cases if possible.
My V2000 is automotive grade paint and has different characteristics than the powder coat. It's quite nice, I really love it.

Either way, you can't lose. I would paint over anodizing though if you have any imperfections in the aluminum. Powder coating seems pretty popular these days too.

What do you have in mind for paint?

First, thanks for your response.
While there isn't any imperfection on the outside surfaces there are some minor scratches on the back side that you really can't see unless your looking for them.

I think I will start to look for powder coating companies in my area.
I will want it any color as long as it's black, just as Henry Ford used to say.LOL

Hmm.. not sure what the difference is between brush and colored, but whatever the basic one is, I got it anodized in blue.

If you can get it sanded to flawless condition, then get it anodized.
If not, go for powdercoating as it also looks gorgeous.

On a bike, powdercoating is pointless, as it adds weight. Anodizing added 3grams to my bike frame (I weighed it

Just make sure there are no rivets, as it will melt any steel. That being said, your case is absolutely amazing. I would love to be as handy and precise as you are

Thanks Eddie3dfx, black powder coating it is.

Why not powder coat the case rather than anodize it?

I just thought it would look good anodized, but since i can't find an anodizer who has a big enough tank, I guess i will get it powder coated.

I've anodized a bicycle frame before, but for a case, I'd rather powdercoat it just in case of scratches.

in order to get it really anodized nice, you need to sand your case to pristine flawless condition before it's ripe for anodizing.

The case panels and frame are in flawless condition but I will powder coat it.

Ok, glad to hear that tape works out great. Can't wait to see this monster finished!

Thanks, within the next 2 or 3 days i will upload all the pictures i have.

Wow, I just caught this thread, how did I miss it?

Very nice work. This case has so many nice features! Great craftsmanship to boot.

Thanks BlueAqua, it's nice to see that you appreciate the features as well, it's the reason I made the case.

Just a little history, I started this case last October and finished it in May of this year.
Since it's completion I've had a Gigabyte X38-DQ6, Radeon HD3870 in it.
Today I have installed an Asus Maximus II Formula, eVGA GTX260 and changed the cpu block from a D-tek Fuzion V1 to the new Swiftech Apogee GTZ.

I hope i can stop upgrading the hardware because the case has fan spacing for Thermochill rads and so far own a Hardware Labs BIX3 rad.

[zuess]

Before I water cooled the video card

























That's basically it for now, will update the buildlog when the case is powder coated.

Thanks everyone.

[silverphoenix]

I absolutely love that satin polish kind of look for the metal totally awesome!!

[Pedalmonkey]

y ano it when u can leave it bear metal and it looks soo good that way??