**** PHINIX NANO TOWER **** Smallest and most powerful mITX rig !!!

[aka_GK]

Can't wait to see what it will be, show us some more

[phinix_mike]

Can't wait to see what it will be, show us some more

I will, my friend, I will, soon

This weekend I need to prepare myself and my Cube for Campus Party Event. I need to send my Cube next week, to make sure it gets there on time.

but of course I will do something with my Tower too. I will try to align all my panels and drill holes, even maybe tap them and screw panels to the frame!
We'll see...

[t_mo_t]

wow.... that's crazy man!! cant wait to see the final result!!!

[aeidau]

yeah nice build mate

[Bill Owen]

The design just blows my mind Mike.

[phinix_mike]

The design just blows my mind Mike.

Thanks Bill
I left it behind a bit, just because I'm preparing my Cube for Campus Party Event.
Guys, I promise I get back on this one as soon as I get back.

[phinix_mike]

OK.. Campus Party is over, I came back home so it's time to slowly get back to work on my Tower If we will have Campus Party next year, I will take NanoTower with me.. that is a promise!

OK. Now, before I'm going to drill panels and rivet them, wanted to ask for your opinion guys - are these rivet positions ok? or would you change them? You can notice that there are no rivets on outside edges - that where the frame goes behind so I will use screws over there.
Are these ok?

[phinix_mike]

oy mate!

the only rivit that bugs me is the one the right above the middle in this pic
http://forums.bit-tech.net/picture.p...pictureid=9764

gonna put the 5770 into this build?

Yo p0Pe !

which one exactly mate? the one on left cover panel that comes on small "hex piece" that stand out to the window?

5770 - Yeah, as long as I get it here:0 still waiting for the package

[phinix_mike]

this one. in the red circle. should be moved more to the edge like the green dots and circles

You're right Pope, would you add some more rivets around the window ?

[phinix_mike]

Thanks guys!

UPDATE TIME!!!

Yep, after having lots of fun on Campus Party I got back to my current build.
I faced the worst part of my mod - tapping holes - and I have to say, I defeated my weakness! Yep, I am ok, I drilled and tapped 6 holes for rear panel - all turned great, no issues, I used all your tips you gave me before and I'm happy to say that it all turned good. There are still a lot of holes to tap in front of me, front and side panels (18 holes to go), but it looks like if I'm going to go with this technic I used today, all will be fine.
No more words, please take a look on photos I made today (all with my new Panasonic GF-1 and 20mm 1/7 lens..sweeeet camera)







I'm pretty sure I haven't showed you guys this part - nicely cut PSU hole!
So here it is...









Next will be drilling and tapping rest of the holes for panels


Stay tuned !!!

[phinix_mike]

Guys, I would like to introduce another great person who was so kind to ponsor my project:



Vincent from Bitspower will sponsor all amazing Bitspower goodies!

[phinix_mike]

UPDATE TIME!!!!

Guess what? I spent 3 hours today on tapping holes 3hours, 20 holes!!!:jawdrop:
I cannot feel my hands, but it was worth it of course
I tapped all holes for panels, job done! Now, I made few photos to show you how the Tower looks closed, only thing is I don't have anough screws right now - decided to make more holes, after I felt confortable to do all the tapping So rear and side panels have 6 holes each, front one has 8. I thought that as long as know now how to tap, I can add more holes to make the panels structure more secure. So photos show panels with 2 screws each..for now Also some of the edges may not stick to the frame, cause of those missing screws... Anyway, I still wanted to show you how this Tower is going to look like. I hope you gonna enjoy those photos











Here's how the dvd hole looks like with front panel attached... I tried to fit in the drive and it fix perfectly!




Some of the holes need small corrections, but most of the edges align nicely...




Some sweat, blood and tears have been sacrificed during today's hard work on those holes.. here you can see one of them.. nicely tapped




This is the panel I haven't showed before - it is front wall of power chamber - with prepared holes for two SSD drives - mounting and cable holes on the left. Top rectangular hole is for dvd cable that will go to the top...

Before...



..and after






At the end few photos of nice panel window holes






next move will be correcting all holes, screwing all the bolts to make sure all works fine with those panels. Then I need to work on pump stand... till next weekend!!! :thumb:

[sniperbob]

wow... SExAY!

[phinix_mike]

wow... SExAY!

Thank you

[millsy_c]

That's awesome!!

[aka_GK]

love all this cool tiny pieces!

[phinix_mike]

That's awesome!!

love all this cool tiny pieces!

Thank you guys!

Now next move will be some small things, but I will get back soon with new update. I need to measure and attach both acrylic panels, top and bottom.
Then draw all cuts I need to do in them, specially the bottom one.

[phinix_mike]

Update time!

This weekend I planned how I'm going to mount the pump. It needed a proper stand, so went to B&Q to buy few ready metal items, brackets, but after I took them all in my hands and put together like they would, the whole thing was too heavy. So I dropped the idea of using ready elements and decided to make it all from scratch by myself (best way, like a good old modder)

Main idea was to make simple, light frame/stand for the pump with reservoir. I went with my old design from the Cube - the one with single radiator+hdd frame/stand, that means circle rods and plates.


So I gathered few pieces...



Using circle aluminium rod I was going to make small "columns" for main aluminium plates, mounting them together with 40mm long screws.. SImple.. screw goes into the rod...



I measured dimentions and drew them on alu sheet..






Few minutes with a dremel in my hands and I got these..



I love the deep of field of those 20mm 1.7 lens



Rough cuts were going to be polished soon...




Quick mockup without screws and holes




..and ready product.. first piece of course...




Pump will be mounted on it with velcro pads to reduce vibrations




..and the stand in the Tower...












Now, let me explain the whole idea. This is just a first piece of the full stand. What will come next?
This is going to be interesting, I can tell
The WHOLE idea came out from the way I am going to build the water cooling loop for graphic card. How? Here you go: I need to make it easy to install / de-install, so I need easy access to the whole loop. It is "impossible" to fit hands in this small Tower case and disable the loop without making a mess and disaster, right? Right.. but not exactly
I am going to use quick release fittings sets in two places: before GPU block and right after GPU block. Both sets will be easily accesible in the left side of the case, right behind the left window. Why do I need them? Because I have such a small space to manouver with the loop, so I have to make it in one non-flexible loop. That means I won't be able to get to the every single compression fitting in the loop without draining it, BUT to resolve this issue I will be able to disconnect graphic card (block) from the rest of the loop: pump, reservoir and huge radiator! Isn't that great?
All those items - pump with reservoir and radiator will be built in one fixed piece. With three easy moves I will be able to take all loop out without making a mess - this design is very hard to achieve, believe me, I was planning it for a last 2 months...
So 3 simple moves will be taking the left panel away, disconnecting two sets of quick-release connectors and taking the rear panel away! Genius!
Now, last explanation - pump with the whole stand and a piece of the top power chamber panel will be mounted together to the bottom of the rear panel, right between the inlet and outlet!!! Yes, all in one piece!!!
THAT is genius!!!

Take a look on the sketchup with the pump stand and the piece that attach it to the rear panel.








Now everything is clear, isn't it? I will of course make more sketches with the whole loop latet to show how it will be connected. Didn't have time today to play with sketchup technic of drawing tubes

I hope you guys like my idea of mounting the loop, I hope you enjoy these few photos and that small update. Till the next weekend !!!

[aka_GK]

Now everything is clear, isn't it?

nnnope but sounds flawless, I like it!
Mike, I am always enjoying all of you pictures and updates because every single tiny part in the masterpiece, keep it up and show us some more

[phinix_mike]

nnnope but sounds flawless, I like it!
Mike, I am always enjoying all of you pictures and updates because every single tiny part in the masterpiece, keep it up and show us some more

Thank you my friend! I'm glad you like it! Hopefully I will continue work this weekend. I think I will cut out and finish the hole for rear radiator.

[kgtiger]

Hay Mike it's been a while since I have been around XS, however it is excellent to see that things are moving in a positive direction for you mate.

I really like the cut out that you have done, they look fantastic and will look totaly sweet when you finish dressing them up.

Your pump stand is good too, it fits right into you design.

Well done Mick it's looking excellent champ!

[phinix_mike]

Hay Mike it's been a while since I have been around XS, however it is excellent to see that things are moving in a positive direction for you mate.

I really like the cut out that you have done, they look fantastic and will look totaly sweet when you finish dressing them up.

Your pump stand is good too, it fits right into you design.

Well done Mick it's looking excellent champ!

Thanks man! That means a lot to me!

So, its time for a little update!

OK guys, before I show you finished rear panel radiator hole, I wanted to show you what recently came from Taiwan! I received nice big box full of goodies from Vincent from Bitspower! YAY! These bitspower fittings are soooo shiny, I just love to look at them!




Of course I couldn't resist to unpack every one of them, so here it is...money shots














This one will go to pump outlet...


..two of these will go to radiator


These two will be mounted in top power chamber panel and will route the tubing to the graphic card block...


These two will help redirect the tubing with quick-release fittings to go around the reservoir...


This is beautiful water temp thermometer which will be installed in one of the reservoir holes, then to nice temperature gauge...


...and this is the whole beauty in the pack GTX295 water block.
I was going to use EK block but the problem came out in the middle of planning the tube routes - problem is I cannot use block with the outlet going on the other side of the block (EK block has actually just one hole on both sides).
The only block design I can use is block that will let me route inlet and outlet tubing to the center of the case - simply because there isn't enough space on theoutside to install any fitting with tube, between right panel and graphic card.
Then I was looking for a quick solution and found that Bitspower makes these blocks for GTX295s!
Just take a look on this one...














As you can see this block has holes on its side and comes with 90 degree adapters which will let me run tubing to the inside of the case.






I hope you like the photos! I will buy some softbox later and organise some nice place to make beautiful photos. I will make photos of those fittings again before i build the loop, so hopefully they will look even better than these photos
This weekend will be longer cause I'm off work on Firday.. that means I will work on Tower in sweat and tears

[kgtiger]

Mmmmm

Man you could take a photo of that block, in the dark and it would still look sweet Mike.

It's good to see you playing with shinny's but did I spy some Nice Black Shinny's too?

Keep up the good work mate.

[phinix_mike]

Mmmmm

Man you could take a photo of that block, in the dark and it would still look sweet Mike.

It's good to see you playing with shinny's but did I spy some Nice Black Shinny's too?

Keep up the good work mate.

Thanks mate. Yep, black shiny ones come with gpu block - they are SLI extenders.

[phinix_mike]

I worked with sketchup a bit to show how basically this rear water-loop combo will work.
So, as I explained before here it is:

This is the top panel of power chamber. It is cut in the middle (actually I will cut a bit less, like a rear left corner so I could pull it out from the case from the back of it)




This is how it goes in the left panel of power chamber - it slides between top edge of that left panel and L shape aluminium profile corner on top of them.




This sketch shows how it goes in the case. You can see ther two "go-through" adapters that will have two quick-release fittings sets screwed to it. So, when I'm going to install it, I will push the whole combo in and screw in the rear case panel, then simply connect quick-release fittings together with sticking two tubes form the gpu block.




Here you can see how it looks from below - you can see the pump stand with that long alu "arm" that goes up to the top panel - that is how the rear piece of top panel will be mounted to the whole pump stand. I will also cut small piece of yellow acrylic to fill out that gap between two pieces of the top panel and light it up with yellow leds. Acrylic will also go with the whole thing outside to the rear of the case.




...and last image: shows how it goes out the case. Mind there is no rear main case panel there - it will be screwed to that small L shape on the bottom of the pump stand.



...and here in the case...


That's it. Mistery solved I hope you like the idea of how I'm going to solve the tight water loop problem I think it will work great. Well, in this kind of small case there is no other way to do it actually. There is no space to let me get my hands in and unscrew fittings or any other way to dismantle the whole thing.