Case Mod - In Progress Betong - Finished - 18 August

My first project log here on bit-tech, did a small presentation of my earlier work here.
My specialty is wood cases and a clean design focused on the the outside look (not so much nice looking water cooling and sleeves )

So over to this project...
This will be a fileserver/HTPC.
It will be based on a Array R2 case that Fractal Design was nice to sponsor me with.
The Array R2 case is a relatively small mITX case with room for 6 x 3.5” HDD and one 2.5” HDD/SDD.

Ass usual I will use wood in this build, and a other not so common material (secret for now ).
The plan is to keep most of the Array case untouched and I will build “around” it. I will also flip it 90° and make it stand and the front down.

I quick concept drawing of the case.


The drawing is “opened up” and is missing a top cover.


Start wit a short review and dismantling of the Array R2 case.



Removed the top. What you see is the large HDD cage, a small 300W SFX PSU and a 140mm fan in the front.


On the inside of the top it's a piece of damping over the HDD cage.


The cage takes up most of the space in the case.



A small SFX form factor PSU. 300W, 80 PLUS rated with 7x SATA connectors, 1x Molex, 1x 4-pin and 1x 20/24pin


In the front its a single 140mm fan that handles the cooling of the case (well its a 80mm fan in the PSU to).
The specifications for the fan – 600 RPM, 9dBa and a airflow at 39 CFM.
A minor disadvantage is that you must unscrew the bracket for the fan to clean the fan filter




Although both the top and bottom is gone the framework feels rigid and not rickety.
By the way the whole case is made entirely of aluminum.




To be continued...

 

Started to cut up some raw materials and planed and milled it.





Always fun to make the first cut (or drill holes) in a new case

 

Time to attach some brackets to the chassis.


Using a piece of bench top to get the first bracket in the right place.


Using a strong double-sided tape to hold the brackets in place before I screw them tight.


The front and back is done.

 

Nice work, will following this with interest

I have the same case, and will start modding soon, nothing as god as what you're doing though. Keep up the good work, looking forward to more....

 

I've just browsed through some of your old projects and am very impressed, not that that means anything, but I'm impressed!

I am sure this will be just as good!

 

Thank you.
Did some last minute changes to the design so its back to work tomorrow to do a small rebuild.

 

Something really interesting , following...

 

välkommen till bit-tech kryll!

Going to be nice this one i asssume!

 

Continued with the backbone of the case.


With the frame all done I’m left whit a gap in the front which I fill up with a piece of styrofoam for extra soundproofing.


The actual frame of the chassis consists of oak strips and 5mm MDF plus a (secret ) filling.



Made some more cutting in the case. Removed the fan vent on both sides of the case.

 

Im lost at whats going on, but ill watch

 

Continued working back the front and back frame.
Did some notches for the ribs infront of the air intake.


Glued the front and back frame in place and made the bottom part of the frame.




The back panel will be removable so I can hide cables behind it.

 

Weekend update

Started to work on the top


Next step was the vent at the top, and well it didn’t go to good. Had a bad feeling about it before I started and it turned out looking relay ugly. So over to plan B.


Lots of ribs for the vent.


Going to look something like this.


Also made a lot of spacers for the ribs.


Just to glue it all together. Perfection





Put the top together to.





Starts to take shape now. All that's missing now it's the “fillings” for the panels.

 

A USB memory in the material of choice for my project.


Hopefully a less fussy picture is coming up when Kryll is sober again...

 

drunk eh? there is a solution for the spacing problem, you need to mak a jig with a pin that's has the distance to the blade as the piece of "uncutten" wood, so that when you have cutted the first slot, place it on the pin, when next is cutted place that one on the pin and so on until all of them are done, that makes for a perfect distance between the rods, and most of all repeatability =) you can make 500 slots and everyone has exactly the same distance.

 

looking forward to this , subbed !

 

Time to start working on the panels.
The material will be concrete. Will cast thin slabs of concrete and then attacht hem to the panels.

Started do the molds in shuttering plywood. Actual the plywood dot look to bad as panels



Tomorrow it's time to start casting.

Also time to change the project name to “Betong” (Swedish for concrete)

 

Looking good, but why do you name it "Betong"?

 

Will the concrete be polished or left as it is afterwards ( imagine it will be fairly smooth anyway )?..

 

I rlly like that you are taking this to the next level.... I have been thinking of doing a case in the same material! Im eager to see the outcome!!!!

 

It will be left as it is, and will be quite "raw" and not so smooth.

hopefully it will look good


Began to cast panels today.
Right now it looks really shiny and smooth, but when its done it will be different.



Also did some brackets for the DVD that sits in the bottom of the case.