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

[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 !!!