Project Capella (Lian Li PC-P50R)

[Kibbler]

@Masta Callen, C-J, Sharon, Graeme, Saltire, dro
Man...thanks a lot you guys for your comments, I'm really happy that you're enjoying the updates (Callen you had me at "meh"! I desperately thought to myself "oh God is it the grain? It must be the grain, it's horizontal and not vertical. Oh crap.")! Really appreciate your collective interest in this build, too.

NASA and Google wouldn't take me lol. I think, the secret is taking the time to thinkthinkthinkthink things through. Hours of doing nothing but think-tanking and doodling. Hours of taking a design, and turning and flipping it around in my mind as if I actually had SketchUp installed in my (Windows 95-era) brain. Spatial planning and thinking in 3D are very important. If this screw goes here does it block something on the other side? These steps have been tremendously important in my planning stages, and it's basically why I opted to not jump into the watercooling and PC components aspect from the start (that, and the components I wanted were not yet available).

Graeme: LCD is this, goes with the color theme situation. And I can't take credit for the soldering, the PCB must come with some kinda flux pre-applied. Solder flows and fills like water, it's incredibly easy.

***

Ok change of pace:

Intermission: Project CATpella

For this project I'll be working on a Petmate Le Bistro portion control feeder. NOT available from NewEgg btw.

First, the all-important design phase. I fired up SketchUp...kinda.


Let's get to work on the base unit.


The chute is the problem area. It's probably wide enough to fit a lion's paw, let alone a housecat's.


Further teardown.


Trusty nibbler to fabricate the anti-theft plate.


Even further teardown to separate the chute from the outer shell, so I can work on it further.


Drilled mounting holes into the chute and the anti-theft plate.


Riveted the plate into the chute, it will be be at an angle (relative to the ground) once everything's reassembled so it shouldn't trap any kibble.


Re-assembled.


And done! I also wrapped the top cover with tape so she can't dig her claws in and flip it open. Which she could and would. Sharon, rascal is right.


End intermission.