**** Phinix AURORA ****

[Chr0n1c]

Love the acrylic work, very creative. The wiring is going to look awesome.

[phinix_mike]

This is starting to look awesome.

Love the acrylic work, very creative. The wiring is going to look awesome.

Thanks guys, happy to see you like it

[phinix_mike]

Update time!

I had some of this stuff done like 4 weeks ago, but wanted to put together some more, that is why update was pushed away few times.

Plus one little accident that happened week ago, I will explain below.

So! A while ago I had those 4 small cubes made for mounting front panel. I had to drill holes in them and push those threaded inserts, then mount them on case frame and screw front panel to it.
I matched and measured front panel and drilled holes in it. Bought some 25mm long M3 screws and here it is:

Cubes mounted, waiting for inserts...




Inserts inserted




..and front panel fits like a glove




Next was to drill 20mm holes in rear of the case for 2 buttons that will control lighting in the case.
Holes drilled, filed, sanded and one of the white buttons tried on...




After I mounted front panel, I noticed that it all looked nice and pretty, but... I had to "adjust" it a little for dvd!
Front panel had too much stuff on the way of slim dvd drive.
These cases have plastic bits on top and bottom of the front panels so both, aluminum and plastic had to be filed down...
Here is plastic bit cleared, dremel action




Then front aluminum bit also cut off, dremel action




Tried the dvd drive and all looked fine!






...then I tried to put on top panel...




Little "lip" strip was on the way! Oh you little...!!!




..now.. that's better...




As you see there is a big hole in drives bay, so I had to cover bigger part of it.
I asked Tom From ChilledPC to cut a wee rectangle to cover it. It had to be precise 149x65mm with perfect 90degree corner, so had to be done on CNC.
Tom cut it out for me and day after I got the piece. I will mount it later using rivets on both sides.




As i did most of the wiring before, I still had to mount 8pin graphics card power cables, so had to measure and cut out hole for it.
Hole cut out and sanded..




...and PCIe cables in the hole, nice...





Now the bad moment...
As you saw in previous updates I used M3 threaded inserts in all acrylic bits.
Next step was to make mounting blocks for reservoir that will hang on two blue rod spine I made for drive cage.
So I made same shape white acrylic blocks and I pushed M3 inserts in them, same as before...



However, when I was mounting it, I screwed them too much and inserts broke through...
Looks like those M3 inserts are fine for small and delicate mountings. So I had to order M4 inserts, same as I used in Phinix Cube.
Those "baaastardos" are huge compared to those M3s. They came last Friday and I could continue my work. I pulled out those M3s, re-drilled holes and pushed M4 inserts.
Look at the difference! Only 1mm bigger screws and how much bigger inserts are! M4 has nice big teeth so it holds in the plastic really strong.




NOTE FOR FUTURE : do not use M3 threaded inserts for installations that needs to be firmly mounted!


So, reservoir holders mounted and look nicely






Last thing I have done last weekend was... top fan exaust hole !!!




I'm telling you guys - this machined billet aluminum fan grill is so sexy, I unpacked it and was touching and admiring it for good 10 minutes
Fantastic piece of aluminum, nicely made Mnpctech!
See, I'm gonna powder coat it satin white to match the whole theme, but inside I feel like I would love to leave it like it is.
If I'm gonna make some future projects with Mnpctech 120mm blow hole, I will definitely leave it unpainted!

So, frosted blue acrylic pieces had to be cut, same theme and shapes as front panel of course.

Action photo (well, with jigsaw turned off Right in the middle of drawn lines, I like to draw 3mm gap - perfect for jig saw cutting...




Here they are, 3 acrylic pieces and blow hole kit:










First, I cut out "round" hole in top panel... well, not really round I say
but it doesn't matter, it will be covered anyway...




..then in acrylic, first time I use jig saw to cut 120mm hole, pretty good for a first time!




..and blow hole kit tried on.. perfect!




That is it for now. I hope you like this wee update.

Next one on Thursday, 13th March!