Project Capella (Lian Li PC-P50R)

[Wezly]

Ah that sucks!
Good luck removing the solder...

And, no ROM is unchangeable... just keep looking for a solution

[Kibbler]

great job as always

Thanks man, there's still a lot of work to be done to get this LCD in shape, appreciate you dropping by.

One day i'm gonna learn to use those displays, you make them look so tempting with your damn great photos . And i never commented on the rad pics at the top of the page, which, by the way, look epic of course

Thanks callen, glad you like it!

Ah that sucks!
Good luck removing the solder...

And, no ROM is unchangeable... just keep looking for a solution

The CF forum tech replied in a thread that the character generation ROM (CGROM) is basically untouchable. They can do custom ROMs but it's expensive and only for mass orders. I'm no EE so even if there was a user-accessible way, it's out of my league man.

Anway, I'm trying out another route now, and hope to have results within the next week.

***

The CAD bandwagon

Open to comments and suggestions.

I'm not set on the 2nd LED "tab," I may do something else with that space. Don't mind the colors either, they're for defining the visible areas.

Waterjet situation () will take place Monday/Tuesday.

EDIT: I'm not sure what file format the waterjetters will need. I may need someone's help to do the conversion for me as SketchUp Amateur can't do any of that.



EDIT: Credit to pomah for an excellent PC-P50 model. Just checkin' out how things might look.

[.:Nismo]

That's an interesting design but since it looks like you will be able to see through it, are you going to paint the fans???

and

Also are you going to make a mid-plate for the case???

[Wezly]

ooooh nice.

I will look for a way.

I wish I had checked this at work I could have asked the opensource/linux guy.

[Kibbler]

That's an interesting design but since it looks like you will be able to see through it, are you going to paint the fans???

and

Also are you going to make a mid-plate for the case???

Hi Nismo, there will be a mesh plate behind that. I didn't make one in SketchUp (don't need to, no CAD required for that) so i didn't put it in.

Mid-plate no. Don't think so.

ooooh nice.

I will look for a way.

I wish I had checked this at work I could have asked the opensource/linux guy.

Wezly thanks but I think I've got things figured out...for now. I downloaded a .dxf exported plugin and it seems to work fine. I've sent the CAD files to the waterjetter for a quotation, so if anything's wrong with the files I should know soon enough.

[Wezly]

Wezly thanks but I think I've got things figured out...for now. I downloaded a .dxf exported plugin and it seems to work fine. I've sent the CAD files to the waterjetter for a quotation, so if anything's wrong with the files I should know soon enough.

I was still concentrated on the CF display issues :P

Good luck on the CAD/Waterjet. I have faith in your skills thus far.

[Kibbler]

The METAL updates
Subtitle: Part 1, Pinnacle's courageous sacrifice

Here's the .dxf I sent to the lasercutter. I originally went over my design with a waterjet guy, but he was not sure his machine's tolerance could handle some of the thin details (text), so he recommended to me a lasercutter. I ended up removing the text anyway when I thought of another way to do it. Oh well.


Project Pinnacle valiantly sacrificed a side panel for our cause. Surface-wise they're still rough. There are still micro burrs left from the cutting, and they'll need to be re-anodized. Today is only a test-fit.


Wait not so fast, he got a window out of the deal! "Sacrifice" my ass that sneaky bastard...


Remember this photo from the beginning (2nd page), I said "this area will be important for mounting..." etc etc? Now we can finally get back to that.


Here's the front bezel. It is made up of...(lemme count)...8 pieces total.


There are 2 screws in each corner, so 8 screws total. Remove the outer (left) one and on the other side...


...and out comes the end-piece. Do the same on the other end.


I love this about Lian Li cases (more so for their older cases than their newer ones), they are 95% held together with screws. Few rivets, no glue of any kind. Infinite modding flexibility. I hate glue. I'm a very mechanical stability kinda guy.


Remove the other 4 screws (now 1 in each corner) with my trusty rusty screwdriver...


...and the 2 aluminum side bars come out.


Leaving us with the bezel frame.


Slide the lasercut front panel between the grooves there on the back of the bezel frame.


Can't see too well here but the screw holes line up perfectly with existing holes in the bezel frame (God bless SketchUp). Also, like I said the lasercut pieces are obviously unfinished.


Take out your "bag of random screws" (admit it you have one, we all do). M3 bolts happen to fit here. Mount that sucker!!


And here's how it looks with the bezel reassembled. The neat thing is the 2 aluminum side bars form a kinda shroud, which covers up the screws so they can't be seen from the outside! Looks stock doesn't it?


***

And that's basically my mental approach to modding: As "clean" as possible with the least amount of brute-force modding. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I dunno. Neither maybe. It's just the way I prefer to do things. With careful measurements and creative designs before hitting the tools.

Interesting thing about this project at the moment: Give me a few hours and I can have this case back to perfectly stock. Goes to show how much can be done by designing around what you have as a first step before jumping into hardcore cutting/grinding/drilling, once your mental designs finally hit the wall of incompatible reality.

***

Anyway. Today we went from render...


...to reality. Ok to be honest that doesn't look that great, the fans are too prominent. There will be a mesh panel in there, too, but that's not yet ready for test fitting.


***

How about those other lasercut parts? Find out next! Thanks for looking.

[GregSG]

Wow

Thats great

Less rivets, more screws = great chassis mods

[shazza]

Wowser. That's killer. So, am I right? You just sent the design to the laser guy yesterday and have a panel cut already (don't even tell me you did a mock-up with a dremel or your nibber)? Or are we not real time here - not that it matters, just trying to sort out how it went so quickly.

That truly came out amazing ( I know that sounds lame, but just can't think of what else to say).

[Wezly]

I can't wait to see the mesh and the CF display up there!

Well done.

[aka_GK]

oh
my
god

brilliant

And that's basically my mental approach to modding: As "clean" as possible with the least amount of brute-force modding. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I dunno. Neither maybe. It's just the way I prefer to do things. With careful measurements and creative designs before hitting the tools.

I respect your approach, trying to follow it too. If thing you made looks like stock that means you did everything 100% right, keep that up mate

[Red-5]

You are right. The faceplate does look stock when reassembled in the front bezel.
Fantastic design mate and looking forward seeing it with the mesh added too.

[Kibbler]

Wow

Thats great

Less rivets, more screws = great chassis mods

Thanks Greg.

Wowser. That's killer. So, am I right? You just sent the design to the laser guy yesterday and have a panel cut already (don't even tell me you did a mock-up with a dremel or your nibber)? Or are we not real time here - not that it matters, just trying to sort out how it went so quickly.

That truly came out amazing (I know that sounds lame, but just can't think of what else to say).

Oh yea it's real time alright, I mean not real time like Google Wave like I'm working as I'm posting, but as in all this happened in the last 2 days. No taking photos then compressing events. Also no flux capacitor involved.

Monday:
-Ordered aluminum plate from aluminum plate place.
-Sent my design to waterjet guy and spoke a few times.
-Picked up some knick-knacks + soldering goodies. And a Bulgin switch, sweet! One less thing to have to order from PPCs, I have them local.

Tuesday:
-Picked up aluminum plate from aluminum plate place, but I ordered the wrong thickness, 3mm instead of 2mm.
-Spoke to waterjet guy who recommended laser guy. Spoke to laser guy.
-Went home, fixed autocad file a bit and sent it to laser guy. Pulled the Pinnacle side panel (while he shed dust bunny tears) and went to laser guy.
-Sat down with laser guy and went over where to cut, etc. He said it'll take about an hour.
-I left, wandered about, had coffee, caught up on emails, went back. All done, paid, went home.
-Dinner.
-Pics!

Real quick turnaround for sure, and reasonable quotes. If I need any custom work in the future I've got it down to a 2-day process. Day 1: Order aluminum and send designs. Day 2: Collect aluminum, send aluminum, then collect. I guess 1 more day on top of that for anodizing/surfacing. Sweet deal.

*The laser work is really really good. I may go back with the original design (with the text) and see how it comes out. Oh that reminds me I should PM charles about something...

I can't wait to see the mesh and the CF display up there!

Well done.

Thanks Wezly me too! I think you'll really like what I have in mind for the Aquaero and LCD.

oh
my
god

brilliant

I respect your approach, trying to follow it too. If thing you made looks like stock that means you did everything 100% right, keep that up mate

Hey GK believe it or not that's something I've noticed. Without dropping names you're among some of the modders whose work just...feels...structurally sound to me. Deliberate. A wiser person might use the word "execution" to describe this quality of how well things fit together. A certain Canadian modder might give out gold stars to reflect that I dunno.

In the planning stage the thoughts at the back of my mind are:
In 5 years time is this piece going to keep its shape and integrity? Is this base material durable, or soft, or brittle?
Will I be able to switch things out easily? New motherboard? New CPU? How modular is the structure?
Is it easy to maintain? Clean? Can I keep some of the creature-comforts that were part of the original stock case?
Will I want to look at this every day?

Sure that's not practical. In less than 5 years time, hell much less than that, I'll have moved on to project #3 #4 #5. But those are my design priorities that must be balanced out against aesthetics. I'm not one to build 1-offs for modding contests. For one I'll never win at any of those, my skills are just not up there. But at the same time, most do not gel with my design philosophies.

Disclaimer: This is in no way to say which approach is right or wrong, better or worse. Absolutely not. You have DB on one end of the spectrum with sexy extravagant airbrushed monster acrylic cases and callen on the other hand with hard lines, metal, and nuts and bolts, and I respect both GREATLY, and many others in between for their different approaches and design preferences. It would be downright insulting and incredibly arrogant if I were to suggest modder A is better/worse than modder B, or whatever. That's not my intention at all, I don't care for it. My interest is seeing patterns in people's work, seeing things I can identify with, and just as importantly seeing designs that I do not identify with, but can still appreciate for the skill and artistry involved. To me that is a very fascinating topic.

Sorry about the verbal diarrhea. TLDR: unimportant tangent stuff

EDIT: btw your new avatar is cool!

You are right. The faceplate does look stock when reassembled in the front bezel.
Fantastic design mate and looking forward seeing it with the mesh added too.

Thanks Red-5. I'll have some more updates (and test fits) coming up in the next few days, I hope you'll enjoy them.

[callen_1]

That's beautiful man! Very awesome design, and i can't believe how quickly the laser guy did the job. I couldn't even get a quote to have aluminum cut (they'd only do mild steel) let-alone a 1 hour job! Now if you'll excuse me, i'm going back up for another look at those pics

[charles_h]

Outstanding execution as always Kibbs!

I'm not supposed to be out in public - I'm deep, deep in design phase working on new stuffs and trying to stay totally focused. I just wanted to pop out/in briefly and say how much I'm enjoying your work.

*The laser work is really really good. I may go back with the original design (with the text) and see how it comes out. Oh that reminds me I should PM charles about something...

If that's me you're referring to please email me instead as my PM box here is full and I haven't had a chance to weed it. There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about...

[Kibbler]

That's beautiful man! Very awesome design, and i can't believe how quickly the laser guy did the job. I couldn't even get a quote to have aluminum cut (they'd only do mild steel) let-alone a 1 hour job! Now if you'll excuse me, i'm going back up for another look at those pics

Thanks a lot callen, I was really, pleasantly surprised by the turnaround, too.

If you read too much into it, maybe it implies that this shop (or at least the laser cutting function) is not terribly busy, or maybe it's not the core of their business, at least not a large part. Nonetheless the quality and tolerance speak for themselves, I am extremely happy with the cutting accuracy + precision.

For the record (callen not for you specifically as I'm sure you're very familiar with various metals), the laser guy said mild/stainless steel is hard and the laser just *blasts* through it Cyclops-style, leaving a clean edge that's smooth to the touch. Aluminum is soft and for whatever reason (the behind the scenes physics escapes me) the cutting process leaves micro burrs that need to be filed away. Max 15-minute filing job at any rate but just something to take note.

Outstanding execution as always Kibbs!

I'm not supposed to be out in public - I'm deep, deep in design phase working on new stuffs and trying to stay totally focused. I just wanted to pop out/in briefly and say how much I'm enjoying your work.

If that's me you're referring to please email me instead as my PM box here is full and I haven't had a chance to weed it. There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about...

Thanks a lot Charles, of course you must hear this a lot but it bears (roar) repeating, many design elements are inspired by your murderMod work. So cheers to that and thanks for your support as always, and now that you've piqued my curiosity, I'm dying to see what you have in store (literally and figuratively) next!

btw yes I was referring to you, I will shoot you an email post-haste.

[callen_1]

Thanks a lot callen, I was really, pleasantly surprised by the turnaround, too.

If you read too much into it, maybe it implies that this shop (or at least the laser cutting function) is not terribly busy, or maybe it's not the core of their business, at least not a large part. Nonetheless the quality and tolerance speak for themselves, I am extremely happy with the cutting accuracy + precision.

For the record (callen not for you specifically as I'm sure you're very familiar with various metals), the laser guy said mild/stainless steel is hard and the laser just *blasts* through it Cyclops-style, leaving a clean edge that's smooth to the touch. Aluminum is soft and for whatever reason (the behind the scenes physics escapes me) the cutting process leaves micro burrs that need to be filed away. Max 15-minute filing job at any rate but just something to take note.

That's really strange? it's a great thing for you because you get to stick with aluminium (which is what i wanted) but the laser guys i went through said aluminum is the slowest material for them to cut? I think they mentioned something to do with the high sheen aluminum has reflecting light back into the lens? Either way you've got a good thing going

[Kibbler]

That's really strange? it's a great thing for you because you get to stick with aluminium (which is what i wanted) but the laser guys i went through said aluminum is the slowest material for them to cut? I think they mentioned something to do with the high sheen aluminum has reflecting light back into the lens? Either way you've got a good thing going

I read that online but my laser guy didn't mention it specifically. Did your laser guys outright refuse to do aluminum, or just quote a premium for it? I don't see why they should outright refuse...it demonstrably works. Oh well. Only thing I can think of is if you brought a finished piece of aluminum (like a Lian Li side panel) to them, and the surface is too smooth/reflective. Rougher-cut aluminum sheet straight from a supplier would be...well, rougher. And less reflective.

There are other options for CAM work, though. Waterjet of course. CNC milling. Waterjet guy also suggested wire cutting (or DWC, or diamond wire cutting) for really fine designs like lettering, but he said that could be pricey and I have yet to find a local shop to try it out. All of those should have no problem at all with aluminum. And I mean...you've been doing router work that's as good as or better than any CAM work I've seen.

***

Here's something else that demonstrably works on aluminum: TeH NeeebleR.

And I've brought it out for some more work that should be ready for test fitting soon.

Next on my list is compiling a grand list of screws and various mounting hardware that I will need to buy: Socket caps, nuts, spacers, standoffs. I'm working on a few (3) "modules" that will need a good deal of assembly.

[F3L1X]

where are you mounting the hard drives and dvd drive?

[Kibbler]

where are you mounting the hard drives

Couple options. Side of the drive bays à la ala_GK (lol see what I did there?), or elsewhere. I haven't started working on it yet but I have some designs in mind. SSD option would be even easier, those things are tiny.

and dvd drive?

Won't have one. After all the work that went into the DVD drive in the Pinnacle, I have not used it at all. Not once. Optical media is just not a significant part of my daily use.

[CptDreadFlint]

Thanks for your insight, Kibbs. It's great to hear/read design philosophies from somebody's work I truly admire.

I remember the way you created your res holder, I remember your drain setup, I remember your optical eject button relocation mod, and more recently, your rad drainhole mod, your Z-Bracket hack, your cooling unit and your latest front panel design. (I'd be worried if I didn't remember that. You just posted it. lolz)

I remember countless other ideas you brought to the game in which your skill, creativity and design philosophies allow you to acheive. You've surpassed being that "one-idea, flash in the pan modder". You're that modder whose innovative ideas and refreshing concepts is something I have constantly been impressed by.

Can't wait to see how the mesh will look on your front panel

Here's my attempt at free association:

Capella → Star → Bright → Oh Look a Butterfly
Cooling Unit → Ice Ice Baby → Vegas, Baby Vegas
Kibbler → Nibbler → Cookies → Nom Nom

Oh dear.
That was a FAIL

[Gwiggles]

Great work, man! I can't wait to see the finished product. My attempts at "modding" cases are futile in relation to yours!

Keep up the fantastic work!

[iandh]

First time I've seen this, looking very good...

[kgtiger]

Excellent work kibbler, Excellent work.

As for the stainless steel being hard to laser cut, I am not sure on that, as a mate of mine gave me a (would you believe it).
A Butterfly (You Must have a big telescope Captain ) that had been laser cut out of 2mm stainless steel, it was a gift for my daughter.
The detail was outstanding and very finely cut, the edges where square and sharp to.
Could just be different quality lasers?

[Kibbler]

Thanks for your insight, Kibbs. It's great to hear/read design philosophies from somebody's work I truly admire.

I remember the way you created your res holder, I remember your drain setup, I remember your optical eject button relocation mod, and more recently, your rad drainhole mod, your Z-Bracket hack, your cooling unit and your latest front panel design. (I'd be worried if I didn't remember that. You just posted it. lolz)

I remember countless other ideas you brought to the game in which your skill, creativity and design philosophies allow you to acheive. You've surpassed being that "one-idea, flash in the pan modder". You're that modder whose innovative ideas and refreshing concepts is something I have constantly been impressed by.

Can't wait to see how the mesh will look on your front panel

Here's my attempt at free association:

Capella → Star → Bright → Oh Look a Butterfly
Cooling Unit → Ice Ice Baby → Vegas, Baby Vegas
Kibbler → Nibbler → Cookies → Nom Nom

Oh dear.
That was a FAIL

Capt Flint man, you are too kind. We're all learning from each other, and as happy as I am that others are getting some...dare say inspiration...out of my work, I must say I am learning a lot from your progress as well. I am. Not just the modding. The photos, the pace, the tone, the light heartedness, the humor.

I appreciate your comments. Thank you. No smiley necessary to convey that.

btw EAT VEGAS BUTTERFLY NOM (situation)

Great work, man! I can't wait to see the finished product. My attempts at "modding" cases are futile in relation to yours!

Keep up the fantastic work!

No such thing as futile man, like I said, we're all learning from each other!

First time I've seen this, looking very good...

Thanks a lot ian, means a lot coming from someone with your machining skill.

Excellent work kibbler, Excellent work.

As for the stainless steel being hard to laser cut, I am not sure on that, as a mate of mine gave me a (would you believe it).
A Butterfly (You Must have a big telescope Captain ) that had been laser cut out of 2mm stainless steel, it was a gift for my daughter.
The detail was outstanding and very finely cut, the edges where square and sharp to.
Could just be different quality lasers?

Haha, actually I meant steel is hard, like opposite of soft. That's what the guy said anyway, because of the hardness or molecular structure or alignment of the stars or whatever, steel cuts better than aluminum. From what I can tell these lasers are powerful enough that they can go through just about anything.

Thanks for your comments as always Graeme!

***

I wasn't planning on an update tonight but...I gotta show you guys this. I love it. Here goes.

***

The METAL updates
Subtitle: Part 2, Liquid crystal test-fit

Recap: This is the top of the case.


Remove the top and there's a panel with the power/reset switches and a bunch of inputs.


Remove that i/o plate (it's at the bottom there but out of focus)


And you're left with this.


Still with me? Cool. We're lookin' at the piece top-right tonight.


See where I'm going with this yeah?


Throw some standoffs on the (stock) LCD.


And once again, for the back row, mount that sucker!


I fixed two M3 12mm standoffs to the case where the i/o plate used to screw into. Hey these things all came with the Aquaero! How lucky is that, I haven't had to buy any new screws for this part yet (I will need to though, soon).


Then it's just like a matter of 1, 2,...


...and 3.


It's not perfect, yet. Surface prep and re-anodizing yeah. Need it. Small fitment (fitment?) issues as well: Need nylon spacers, a bit of the case metal is getting in the way, etc. It's all in the pipeline.

Thanks for looking!