ABS/Tagan Black Pearl - evolution of a water-cooled rig

[Liderc]

As always, beautiful work.

[shazza]

Thanks much, guys. The day of reckoning will come when I route my stuff through the holes. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Currently testing the Antec Signature 850 PSU on the Torture Rack before I tear it apart for sleeving. Wanted to make sure it survived a couple of drops onto the concrete floor

I've still more metal work to do, but thought it might be a good idea to switch to something that did not scare me so much.

[shazza]

Me again.

Been tormenting myself over the 120mm fan holes in the case panels. A practice run today:








Yep, that's a drill press. A surprise that showed up yesterday - I wasn't sure I could use the hole saw with a hand drill. Lou could have done it, but that would have been cheating. So ... he invested another $99 in my project (Anybody catching the drift here that my $60 case has not been such a bargain after all? )






I would appreciate any and all hints and tips before I move ahead. Thx.

[Chicken Patty]

wow, nice drill you got there Sharon. Unfortunately I cannot give you any feedback as I've never used one . So is this thing supposed to do perfect 120mm holes or something?

[aka_GK]

I wish I have that thing, previously had some experience working with - it is very handy and makes you feel extremely confident while drilling etc.

[shazza]

It just makes it easier to drill anything - you can set the speed and the depth. The hole saw makes a good round cut, but I did have just a little wobble at the end - probably because of how I set it up. I used it for a couple smaller holes with the step drill, and it worked like a charm (not possible to drill in reverse if you're lowering the drill ).

My main question has to do with using wood underneath the hole saw - should I change out to a fresh uncut area of wood each time, or better to just drill into the same place (little concerned about not getting things set exactly, but I guess that can be checked easily enough). My other big issue is going to come with the side panels - they are so huge I'm still trying to figure out how best to brace everything.

[charles_h]

Good stuff Sharon.

I got a wooden cutting board from Home Depot and attached it to the drill press table - this provides a better base to clamp stuffs to. The cutting board is 1-1/2" thick and is mounted to the cast iron table with beefy screws going in from the bottom. You can use your 120mm hole saw to cut a hole at the back edge so the cutting board wraps the drill press's vertical column. You obviously don't need to use a cutting board but just be sure to get a piece of wood that's nice and thick so you can secure it to the table. I used the cutting board because it was the perfect size and on sale.

I used a 1" hole saw to bore a hole in the center for drill bits to go down through. For larger bore work, use a piece of wood on top as you've mentioned - I'd move it after each hole cut.

Another suggestion is to get a whack of these: Irwin Quick Grips - they're the cat's pajamas!

Hope that helps.

[bianco]

your project is looking great shazza.
and i'm lovin' the collection of tools you're accumulating there.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Dont you love that press sharon? I have the same one, best hundred bucks I ever spent I used mine to drill the hole in the granite and it held up perfectly well, it's a quite durable piece of machinery.

[ohms]

Nice new drill press there Shazza! Your cuts are improving so much it's amazing watching progression on skills like that. I'm too terrified to try any kind of cuts on my case panel as I don't want to mess up the paint job. I think I may end up trying sooner or later as PPC has ATCS 840 side panels cut with windows for sale for pretty cheap.

I want to get of the items I need already so I can start putting my WC together

[shazza]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Gotta have some coffee, then get back to it this morning.

@Charles - a cutting board! Nice idea (can just see Lou screaming when he finds his special teak board filled with holes ). Thx for the help. (and, I haven't forgotten the lube)

@bianco - thanks. Tools, tools, and more tools!

@SNiiPE_DoGG - it is easier to work with. We were a bit concerned if it had enough power, then I saw one of your posts where you had the same one

@ohms - Thanks for the kind words. Hehe - it's taken me over three years to get up the nerve to make a cut. It's kinda fun - a bit like sleeving. Once you do it, you just want to keep finding things to cut

[kgtiger]

Please be really careful of them, they look simple, however they will and do bite, big time if you give them a chance.

The best advice I can give you is clamp every thing down so it is held tight.
Always ware clear, clean safety glasses.

Drilling holes whith a drill press is heaps easier, however, as you can apply heaps more pressure to the drill bits.
The chance of them grabing is also that much higher.
Just clamp all jobs down tight, use a vice to clamp small items in, also clamp/bolt vice down, drill large holes at slow speed,
(not sure if you change speed by a switch or by changing the position of the v belt on the pullies up top), use coolant.
ALWAYS
Keep loose clothing tucked in, use hair ties for long hair or a hair net, hat will do.
Do Not try to remove swarf ( the spirally stuff that comes off the drill bits when drilling) from the drill as it is turning, even if it has been turned of but has not stoped.
As it is really sharp and will cut your hands/fingers to shreds or can/will pull your hands into the drill bit as it turns.

I have seen people that I have work with for years, loose one and half fingers as a result of not clamping down piece of thin plate.
The drill bit grabed the plate, spinning the plate around, his fingers where over the edge of the plate and have been cut off by the base/bed or by hitting the post.
I have seen a large sections of hair and scalp removed from a guys head when his long hair got cought by the rotating swarf as he was pulled into the drill.
Not nice at all.

I don't mean to scare you, but I do want you to be knowledgeable and safe.

[shazza]

All good advice that will be taken to heart, kgtiger. 3+ hours of measuring, re-measuring, and prep and no cut yet.

Safety glasses - check
No loose clothing - check
Clamps - check
V-belt positioned for lowest RPMs - check
Laser sight calibrated - check
Lubricant ready - check
No cleaning spirally swarfs with fingers - check (already been yelled at for that, even when everything stopped)
Hair tied back - check

Paralyzed by fear - check check check

[Xion X2]

The drill bit grabed the plate, spinning the plate around, his fingers where over the edge of the plate and have been cut off by the base/bed or by hitting the post.
I have seen a large sections of hair and scalp removed from a guys head when his long hair got cought by the rotating swarf as he was pulled into the drill.

Having second thoughts about buying that drill press now...

[millertime359]

With all power tools, they are dangerous if handled carelessly. Just make certain you pay attention while using them and things what KG talked about won't happen.

Its like leaks on our loops. The main time bad things happen are when you are being careless.

Good luck with the new toy.

[CptDreadFlint]

...
Paralyzed by fear - check check check

Awesome new toy, Shazz! With the sweet deal you got off the case, I think the purchase of a mere $99.00 drill press is uber justified.

[shazza]

Thanks for the support, Xion, mt and Cpt


Here's some pics of today's prep work. Now, mind you, I had already spent several hours mulling over how to do this, but got serious today.


The panel, all nicely protected, and a template for the fan hole cutouts:






In fact, I got more templates than I know what to do with - thanks to MNPC Tech:






Not going to get very far with templates hanging all over the case. Hmmmnnn - here's about where the radiator goes, maybe this will help me figure it out:






OK - I'll just poke a hole in the right spots. Oops, wait a minute, can't go through the radiator. Guess I better open that sucker up:






mmmmmmm, great - it fits. But how does this help me figure out where to cut. Can't exactly get to the holes. Let's try putting the template in behind the fans:






Great - 'course, that still doesn't help me a lot, does it? I know from previous checks that the height is critical. With the hammond boxes under the radiator, it just clears the PSU. Did some pencil marks on top of the fans, some more measurements, and figured I was close.




This pic shows that there's just enough room for the quad radiator, should I decide to go that route:






Measured the distance to the center holes and edges many times, hoping like Hell I have the distance from the bottom correct:






On with it! Template taped, and removed the bottom bracket (and one of the side ones) so I could place it flat on the table.







Okay - almost ready to go. Drilled holes in each of the center holes (using the drill press). Started with a very small bit, then worked up to the same size as the arbor on the hole saw. These holes were drilled on the template which is on the inside of the panel - meant to be the guide holes, as I'll be drilling the large holes into the front of the panel.






Still with me? Trying to give you a sense of just how long this took me Apologies to those of you who have done this many times.


So, how'd it all come out? Stay tuned for the next update. If you don't hear from me, it could be I'm missing a finger, or my scalp (that one really, really scared me )

[ohms]

So, how'd it all come out? Stay tuned for the next update. If you don't hear from me, it could be I'm missing a finger, or my scalp (that one really, really scared me )

lets HOPE not!

[Mabyboi]

...
Paralyzed by fear - check check check

Dont worry shazza, you'll do fine!!

[Equinediver]

Damm, wish I hadn't shown hubby this thread

Was just asking him about the dangers......then he told me how his son lost a chunk of hair in one, and how everything kgtiger says is true, they can be nasty

Anyways, now he wants one for his leather work! Appartently with a leather punch they are amazing when you need to punch a load of holes!!!

Anyways Shazza, hope it hasn't tried to attack you....waiting for your successful post

[Chicken Patty]

even if just for the pics, seeing the rad in the case gives me the chills

[ohms]

If it attacks you Shazza, I'll come beat it, with a very long stick, behind a fence

[Chicken Patty]

If it attacks you Shazza, I'll come beat it, with a very long stick, behind a fence

just give the stick to your buddy in your avatar. He looks like he means business!

[ohms]

just give the stick to your buddy in your avatar. He looks like he means business!

Gotta love Domo Kun.

[shazza]

If it attacks you Shazza, I'll come beat it, with a very long stick, behind a fence

Thanks everyone. Survived - fingers, toes, and scalp intact!




The hole saw goes round and round and ends up with this:







A couple more done ... (the scraps were vacuumed up after each hole):







Done ... yikes, not much space between those holes!






A quick peek with some of the tape off. So far, no signs of anything too bad. Cuts came out pretty clean. Will have a closer look tomorrow.