Hi ! Time for a new Scratch Build! (Last one I did was Little Scratch: http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=3366985#post3366985 ) This new build is also going to be a “Little” Build, with this time enough room for a real GPU! But still a super compact gaming PC! The main goal is to make a 7 liter case. To give you an idea of how small that actually is: In this case there has to be room for; mini-ITX MoBo, 5x 2,5 inch harddiscs, SFX powersupply and a big graphics card like the GTX 980! Ofcourse everything has to be cooled quietly ! I used material from this old Dell server case that I got from my uncle. Lots of material for a very small case! All of the parts are cut out by hand, the good old fashioned way! Soldering with a soft solder containing tin and silver. The frame as it is now. Next update I'll finish the framework and start making the plexiglass parts!
Thanks for the comments! "7L? You're aiming pretty high with this! That's tiny! Subbed!" Yes, it is a very small case an quite ambitious! In the design there is enough room for everything! "Love the craftsmanship and the fact that it's captured in the pictures" Because of my profession as a goldsmith I am used to work "the old-fashioned way". So there will be more craftsmanship... Time for an other update! The colour scheme for this build will be: Mysterious Black, Dangerous Red and Glorious Gold… Or.. just Black, red and gold The case will be matt black and on the inside there will be a lot of plexiglass ellements below you can see a few tests with a LED and transparent red acryllics. pieces cut out with a lasercutter: Always fun to take off the protection foil! Unfortunately the Red colour is not suitable for transferring the light. Even when I sandpaper the surface it just doesn’t want to glow. So in the end I decided to use transparent plexiglass and added some nice engraved lines to the parts. This works perfectly! As you see everything has to be made fit by hand. Unfortunately the laser cant fix this for me so I just have to do it the good old fasioned way!
Oooh, this sounds fun, and tiny. Massively off topic: How did you get into goldsmithing? Sounds somewhat niche but very interesting.
Thanks Great! And indeed Massively off topic , but here is the story... (in short). I always liked being creative and making stuff. So I went to art school and they told me ' you have to look beyond....'. Thats when I thought ... this is not my cup of tea. So I ended up visiting the school for Goldsmithing, Silversmithing and Jewelry Techniques which is a really decent technical education. If you know the techniques you can make almost anything. Goldsmithing combined with Casemodding is a perfect match!
Update number 3 ! The GPU fits excactly inside the case! This is the Sugo 11L and the GPU just doesn’t fit. The plexiglass parts have all been made to fit the case perfectly! There will be black plexiglass on the inside of the case to cover up all the seams. And to give a nice change in finish (matt paint and shiny plexi). In the Plexiglass plates I drilled holes for ventilation. I made all of the corners of the plexit fit to the frame. Not very precisely but In the end you will not see the edges! And ofcourse a picture with my bird; “pixel’ Completely covered my workshop before spray painting! (been there, done that last time everything was covered in yellow paint) Because the case has been build out of zinc plated steel I had to use a special kind of spray paint. I painted the case with a matt black finish! Thats all for today !
Thanks Guys ! Anndddd another update... This time the case feet. Ofcourse I used the transparant plexi again so when you install a red LED the whole thing will shine Cut with the laser: black plexi, transparent plexi and black foam. First sandpaper everything, and than creating a matt surface with a scotch brite pad. Than...creating a hamburger ! In the bottom of the case I made 4 holes where I can install leds that lead directly into the second transparant plexi layer. Then you will get red illuminated case feet! I used sandpaper on the plexiglass to help te glue stick better to the surface. A matt surface means better attachment. Everything glued together with epoxy glue. Just a few small tests with a red LED light. The battery that I use doesn't have so much power but just to give you an idea Pixel is also enjoying himself with the LEDs PCI express cable also mounted into the frame. Next step is to fit everything inside the case
This is how I like to see a log.. Forget about 10 pages of funky hardware shots, just BAM, straight in to the modding. This is looking like a really nice build and so small. I think if I build some thing that small I would probably loose it
Great ! And he is "totally" awesome Thanks! Yes, might become a dangerous project for him. Although I think that he would damage the case and hardware more than it would damage him ! HE always leaves a trail of destruction.... Before: After: Thanks! It is about the modding and that is what I like the most!
Before/after: That's not too destructive. There's no poo involved. Also, they look like the 'after for me when I get them through the mail anyway. China must ship via budgie.