Modding Drilling/cutting mobo mounts and holes ADVICE!

Hi all

Noob alert I'm afraid.

I'm modding an old hi-fi CD-player case for an ITX/HTPC build. I've got to the point where I need to drill and tap holes for the motherboard mounts and cut a hole in the back for the mobo backplate (gulp).

I am armed with a trusty dremel and a ruler. I'm measuring and marking and measuring again (and thank you for the thread with all the dimensions) but I'm still terrified of actually cutting. Trouble is, I can't site the mobo properly to get the mounting holes 100% right without cutting out the backplate.

Suppose I will just bite the bullet and go for it, but before I do I wanted to ask if anyone had any clever advice?

Thanks

 

There's a simple solution.

First of all, you need a spare set of standoffs, where you cut the thread. This way you can place the motherboard in the correct height, to know where your I/O-shield will be located.

After having cut out the hole for the I/O-shield, you can now place the motherboard in the correct position. Now you can remove the modified standoffs and mark the position for the standoff-holes.

I hope that was understandable

 

Also, printers can be surprisingly accurate if you feed them good data. Find or make a drawing, print it out 1:1, no fitting or scaling, and compare it to the actual mobo to make sure there was indeed no scaling. Tape it down and have at it with your center punch.

 

Doesn't solve his problem if you read carefully.

 

Thanks for the comments.

What would be ideal would be a printed piece of paper with a fold mark, that I can stick down to the base of the case, and fold at 90 degrees and also stick up the side of the case which marks both the standoff holes and the backplate?

If anyone knows what measurements I should use for such a thing let me know! (I can probably figure it out from the 'measurements' thread too

Thanks again

 

there's these wonderful inventions called tape and scissors. make 2 templates, one for mobo layout, other for backplate, cut off the excess paper and stick together with tape.

 

Fully awesome. This thread totally inspired this idea, and it's worked brilliantly. Not rocket science I know, but I just hadn't thought of it til now.

Back template photoshopped on to top of of base template - printed and folded and stuck to cardboard for a dry run.

will try and post some pics.

Thanks all...