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

[BringerOdeath]

Shazza that system looks beautiful as always!! I didn't like the way my painting turned out so I took it in to get powder coated, so It should look a lot better!! Is it easy to take the fan off the hub on the those gentle typhoons? My zalmans have been dying here and there.....Oh, you think you have a vortex? You should see what the triple ddc 3.25's do in my Iand H res!! I will have to post a pic!!!!:P

[shazza]

Thanks again for the feedback, guys - it's always appreciated. While the work log has been quiet, I have been slaving away on lots of bits and pieces. Also tackling something new. I got so tired of hearing "you really should learn to use a CAD program." (I notice it only really pi$$es me off when I know he's right?)

So, sat down to tackle Google Sketchup once and for all. Fortunately, my case is one of those included here, so it's simply a matter of downloading components and putting them together. Easy, Peasy, as the Cpt. would say:






I am definitely one of those gals who has difficulty with 3D visualization.

[callen_1]

I'm the same as you shazza, 3D is hard . looks like we'll just have to stick to measure, measure, measure and fit.

[Chicken Patty]

Hey Sharon, sorry to post in the thread but I sent ya a PM a few days ago. Wondering if you came across it yet?

[Waterlogged]

Thanks again for the feedback, guys - it's always appreciated. While the work log has been quiet, I have been slaving away on lots of bits and pieces. Also tackling something new. I got so tired of hearing "you really should learn to use a CAD program." (I notice it only really pi$$es me off when I know he's right?)

So, sat down to tackle Google Sketchup once and for all. Fortunately, my case is one of those included here, so it's simply a matter of downloading components and putting them together. Easy, Peasy, as the Cpt. would say:






I am definitely one of those gals who has difficulty with 3D visualization.

I'll say this before Cpt gets in here. Arggg, the radiator, she be sinkin'.

[shazza]

I'm the same as you shazza, 3D is hard . looks like we'll just have to stick to measure, measure, measure and fit.

Yeah ... I had a heck of a time figuring out which axis to rotate to get things oriented correctly.

Hey Sharon, sorry to post in the thread but I sent ya a PM a few days ago. Wondering if you came across it yet?

Sorry about that, CP - got quite a few PMs I've got to clean up - will catch you soon.

I'll say this before Cpt gets in here. Arggg, the radiator, she be sinkin'.

lol - you're tellin' me. Almost gave up, since no matter which axis I used, I couldn't get the damn thing straight - then I realized the starting point was also critical


Okay - determined not to give up, I plugged away for a couple of more hours (yes, I'm slow), but I'm finally getting the hang of it. So, here's a mock-up of the new bottom layout ...







I started this whole exercise to verify my next cutouts for the front panel - including fan placement and the LCD screen. Only got this far before it was pool time, but I did figure out how to cut a hole in the side panel





So that's it for today. I know this is OLD HAT for many of you, but I've never made it past the loading stage for sketchup, so I'm happy with the day's output.

And yes - one should do this in the beginning ... remember, I told you I'm winging it on this build. Maybe next time I'll do better.

Thanks for looking.

[Wezly]

@Waterlogged

It's ok, Shazza, you made it further than I did with sketchup.

As this post was.... posted.... I saw your result for the day. Incredible!

[kgtiger]

Hay Shazza, it's excellent to see you trying new things, it's become a bit of a trend in this work log of yours.

Instead of writting you a short story I will try to just leave it as a memo.

The Key to Sketchup is working in Layers.
That way you can name parts, allocate a layer then turn it on or off if its in the way when working on something near by.

The best thing I ever found was the Google sketckup Tutorials, watch them all, if you haven't already, very well worth it, heaps of good how-to info in them.
http://sketchup.google.com/training/...ew_to_gsu.html
I just downloaded them all, theres about 28 of them but there only short, say 4 -7 min each and then I just kept going back as I needed info on a particular tool.
Like the "follow me" tool or the "push" tool, both very handy by the way.

Have fun with it Shazza I will drop back soon for another look.

[Kibbler]

I love that you bothered to give your 3D environment green meadows and blue skies *laugh out loud*

[Mr.Farva]

Has this case been discontinued?

[CptDreadFlint]

Haha! Didn't know Waterlogged was so good at impersonations...

But Yarr!
Sharon, me hearty...Yer rad be sinkin', lass.

I got as far as installing Sketchup and downloading a pre-rendered UFO-U2. But's that's about it.
It took me years to learn Maya and I'm still learning. 3D apps are not easy to learn. You managed to place and manipulate objects in one afternoon.

It really is a treat for me to see you continue to build your modding knowledge aresenal...powertools, Sketchup, painting, testing, it goes on...

Few may consider some of the things you share with us, "Old Hat", but at least for me and others who are still learning, it's truly enjoyable to watch your progress. You make it fun to not only learn from you, but to also learn alongside you.

To negate the cheese and corn that I dropped in here, I must say this:

"Yo no soy marinero. Yo no soy marinero.
Soy capitan, soy capitan."

I love that you bothered to give your 3D environment green meadows and blue skies *laugh out loud*

I believe that's the default simple template environment if I'm not mistaken...

I would have left that dude with that blank stare in there. lol

[shazza]

...Is it easy to take the fan off the hub on the those gentle typhoons? ...

Oops, forgot to respond to you in my google-citement. Pretty easy to take the blades off - two toothpics to spread the snap ring worked best for me - but work inside a plastic bag to save yourself when the rings fly (that would be just the fan in the bag, not your head )

@Waterlogged ...

Thanks Wezly - yeah, WL comes up with some good ones - it made me laugh as well.

Hay Shazza, it's excellent to see you trying new things, it's become a bit of a trend in this work log of yours. ...

Ah - thanks Graeme. The videos made no sense to me until I'd struggled with the software for a few hours - now they're helping a lot. Also using "Google Sketchup 7 for Dummies," by Aidan Chopra. As for trying new stuff - that's the whole point of this build, so am enjoying the journey, and it's nice to have friends along for the ride.

I love that you bothered to give your 3D environment green meadows and blue skies *laugh out loud*

Well, I would have done palm trees, but I'm not that good yet As - man says, that's the default background. It did help keep me knowing which way was up...

Has this case been discontinued?

Yes, it seems to have been discontinued for a while now - it's basically the same as the Lian Li V2000 which is also discontinued. Too bad, as it has loads of room for water cooling.

"Yo no soy marinero. Yo no soy marinero.
Soy capitan, soy capitan."

lol - you are definitely La Bamba (and so glad you edited your post to get pinkie in). Seriously, appreciate the support - and can't wait to see where you're going with the Black Freighter, as you are keeping us in much suspense.

[BringerOdeath]

Thx Shazza, I will have to pick those up! What rpm's are you using? 1450 or 1850?

[shazza]

I'll be using a combo of 1450RPM and 1850RPM fans, BringerOdeath.


Whew - been struggling mightily in 3D space - visiting dimensions I didn't even know existed. But, have a reasonable model of the bottom compartment. Trying to figure out how to do a removable module for the rads/pumps/res. Here's a mock-up made in Sketchup - I still need to add the fill tube from the res. My concerns are 1) how to hook it all together so it's stable, yet can be lifted out of the bottom compartment, 2) how best to isolate vibration from the pumps, and 3) will a very short fill tube work?

The loop order is Pump > CPU > GPU > Top Front Rad > Bottom Front Rad > Drain > Bottom Back Rad > Top Back Rad > Res > Pump























I converted the MCR320 (submitted to the sketchup gallery at bit-tech by kinghong1970) to a 420, and painted the GT fans, which were from Mick - thanks guys!). The res and pump with tops I found in the Sketchup 3D Warehouse.

[Wezly]

[callen_1]

I concur.

[aka_GK]

wow, nice render! And I like the idea

[Waterlogged]

...snip... My concerns are 1) how to hook it all together so it's stable, yet can be lifted out of the bottom compartment,...snip...

If it were me, I'd whip up some round rods (8 to be precise) of the proper spacing length that had 6-32 right and left hand threads and thread them into the rads. Seeing you unlikely have the same equipment I have (lathe ), maybe go for some reasonably thick sheet metal (perhaps 18ga) strips bent to the proper distance and screwed into place?,. . .or maybe even use 2 full set of UN's rad brackets to hold the rads together? Heck, if you use 3 sets, you might even be able to provide a method to mount the pumps with a UN pump mount as well.

[Raiden]

Looking good Shazza !

More updates please !

[shazza]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. You may have noticed I've upped my cooling capacity from what I originally planned - my thought is that this is such a large case, it will at sometime house a different board than the micro-ATX and the single 5850 GPU, so might as well make it ready now.

I'm also trying to isolate everything to do with "water" in the bottom section, except, of course, for the tubing runs to the water block. I also don't want to block any airflow between the radiators, which is why the strange pump/res placement. We'll see how it works soon, I hope.

If it were me, I'd whip up some round rods (8 to be precise) of the proper spacing length that had 6-32 right and left hand threads and thread them into the rads. Seeing you unlikely have the same equipment I have (lathe ), maybe go for some reasonably thick sheet metal (perhaps 18ga) strips bent to the proper distance and screwed into place?,. . .or maybe even use 2 full set of UN's rad brackets to hold the rads together? Heck, if you use 3 sets, you might even be able to provide a method to mount the pumps with a UN pump mount as well.

Ahhh ... yes, the lathe - I don't think the audience could take another trauma-filled expose on me learning to use such an addition Could probably get some made locally.

I didn't even know they made double threaded rods - you can actually buy them, but I don't think they come in the small thread size I need. I've got a few UN Designs rad brackets, and some other corner brackets to try ... just trying to avoid it looking like a second grader did it. I've yet to figure out how to mount the pump, but will keep working at it. Thanks for the ideas.

[Wezly]

Are you going to cut the bottom out of the case to allow air between the rads? Or is there fresh intake somewhere else?

I've seen it called something... pana-flow, para-flow?

I think bianco did it, which was a take-off from some other modder who knew a guy with a friend and some parts.........

I found the post.

[kgtiger]

Hay Shazza your Sketchup work is looking good, love the red fans and it's good to see you got the hang of doing the tubing as well, very nice.

As for mounting the rads, Bitspower have these http://www.jab-tech.com/Bitspower-Ra...K-pr-4404.html.
There is another design I plan on using, I could get them from Gam mods but I plan to make them myself.
His site is down for maintenance at the moment so I will post a link when it's back up and running again.

I just remembered this
This photo is from NaMcOs last build "The Project". The ones at Gams are made of aluminium not acrylic like NaMcO's are, but you get the idea.
I am sure someone in the states sells them or you could make them your self.

As for mounting the pumps, you could use a piece of aluminium bent up into a U shape to fit in between the rad brackets.
Bolt it onto the rads by using the fan hole mounts at top of the brackets so it sits flush with the top.
Or you could also just use two pieces of aluminium angle (25x25mm/ 1"x1") thats are long enough to suport the pumps and bolted the angle to the rads using the fan hole mounts.
Then cut a small piece off that aluminium sheet you have to cover the gap between the aluminium angles.
Then bolt that samll pieces of sheet aluminium to the angles so you can mount the pumps on top.

Hope that all makes sence to you Shazza.

[iandh]

Thank you for your support, Kibbler, .:R32, Wezly, and callen - I appreciate the comments. I had fun figuring out how to do the window, but it sure was tiring - I read so much about routers and router bits that I'm thinking of making a Router the lead character in my next novel (which, of course, would be my first novel - I think you see why )

The construcion of carbide wood router bits is suprisingly similar to their cousins used in machining. The main difference is that wood routers use a much smaller shank in relation to the cutter diameter. Other than that, pretty much the same animal, and as you found out, they work extremely well for stuff like you did.

Nice work btw...

[CptDreadFlint]

Awesome Sketchup work, Sharon! Anxiously awaiting further developments on Operation Horizontal Res Mount

[shazza]

Are you going to cut the bottom out of the case to allow air between the rads? Or is there fresh intake somewhere else?

I've seen it called something... pana-flow, para-flow?
...

Ahh ... I remember seeing that in bianco's log, and also Petra showed an Antec case where he set it up like that. I won't be trying that in Rev 1 ... let's see how it goes first. Planning to set it up Fans > Front Rad > space > Back Rad > Fans. I'll use 1850 GTs for the fans, then adjust as necessary, perhaps running the back rad fans at higher RPM to get the warm air out of the bottom. Two quads should give me more than ample cooling, even though the back rad will be seeing warmer air from the front one - we'll see.

Hay Shazza your Sketchup work is looking good, love the red fans and it's good to see you got the hang of doing the tubing as well, very nice. ...

Thanks for the ideas on mounting the radiators and pump - I checked out that bracket at Gammods - interesting.

The construcion of carbide wood router bits is suprisingly similar to their cousins used in machining. The main difference is that wood routers use a much smaller shank in relation to the cutter diameter. Other than that, pretty much the same animal, and as you found out, they work extremely well for stuff like you did.

Nice work btw...

Thanks for stopping in, iandh - I would have tried one of your new reservoirs, but already had this one hiding in the drawer.

Awesome Sketchup work, Sharon! Anxiously awaiting further developments on Operation Horizontal Res Mount

Uh Oh ... your post made me think - is it gonna work? So, I went ahead and set it up just to see. So far so good - took a while to bleed the air out (requires a bit of tilting), but the short fill line is not an issue. Vibration is not too bad, even with the pumps resting on the rads (temporary only).







Just messing around with the camera, but also showing preparation for Safe Cutting (still have to do the new midplate and the fan holes on the side panels):