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Scratch Build – In Progress Cray C916 (supercomputer) scratch build - NAS

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by HCP, 30 Mar 2013.

  1. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    Cray supercomputers are probably not a new name for anyone.
    As on my other builds i make something strange or odd, so will this be

    I´m not sure yet if i´m going with a ITX motherboard for it or taking a NAS and remove the case from it. The future will tell
    I have eight 2TB S-ata drives waiting for a housing, dont know if all will fit but atleast 6 of them.

    It all started with a email to CRAY asking for measurements for their old computers and casings
    Then i told the story, im a fan of older big computers with some soul in the case and wanted to make a working scale version of it.


    I get alot of questions why and how i can manage to keep all this projects alive, and why i dont make one done before starting another.
    So here it is, before i get the same question again :)
    I do not have a job after a heart attack and a back injury, im at home with my 4 y.o. kids and the hours when they are on kindergarten and late night i need to fill with something to do (except for my company i spend some hours on), and there it is. I have probably 10 times more time for this than other modders.


    Enough of the text, here my first sketch of the C916 based on information i got.
    I still need to put into some more changes and details for it.

    Rough rendering

    [​IMG]

    Cray systems picture of it.

    [​IMG]

    ---


    Did some planning, i will probably go with a ITX mobo and six 2TB drives. I have a 3-ware raid card somewhere in low profile that fits pretty good. Now i have the basic footprint size done, time to cut it in 4mm acrylic
    2x120mm fans in front of the harddrives pushing air in, over pressure when the case its not air tight it will work perfect.

    [​IMG]

    Did some templates for cutting the acrylic and noticed one crucial part... The PSU.
    So, instead of cutting panels its time to check up a PSU that fits into this creation.
    I know i know, planning first, making later

    I have 140x90mm "floor" space and about 20cm high, i probably go with a SFX or TFX from Be Quiet!
    The SFX measures 125 x 100 x 63,5mm and the TFX 70 x 85 x 177mm, probably need to run the power into the case as its impossible to fit the PSU to a panel for connecting the power cable.

    5 minutes rendering, dont know why i rendered it in the first place, but here it is
    The white box is the SFX PSU size.

    [​IMG]

    It begins...
    This is the base i going to add fiberglass to
    ops, out of focus. Better pics later when its cut to size and braced.

    [​IMG]

    ---

    Started out with making a template for the shape.​
    Its only half, i flip it to get 100% accurate bend on the part im cutting.

    [​IMG]

    And the tops parts done, time fore some gluing!​
    The smaller ones are internal to hold the front pieces. (need 20 of them)

    [​IMG]

    ---


    Some more parts cut in acrylic.The case will NOT be transparent, i use it to get stiff plastic to hold it up.
    Time to start gluing the puzzle :)

    [​IMG]

    So it begins...

    [​IMG]


    ---

    And, one of three almost done.
    This is just the external shape, internal they will look different depending on where it goes.

    nevermind the pipe, the real one is drying from fiberglassing :)

    [​IMG]

    The real deal...

    [​IMG]

    ---

    Really advanced gluing, got to make some jigs and parts to get spacing correct and at the same time angle in two dimension at the same time holding it so the glue could bite :)
    Not sure if im satisfied with this, will see later after the internals of this parts is there and some paint.

    Some parts missing, its 1.25 AM here so my neighbours probably dont like me starting the table saw :)
    More work laters!

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 30 Mar 2013
  2. Father-Time

    Father-Time Minimodder

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    Ooohh....now this looks very cool and interesting, subbed.
    Good luck!
     
  3. jrs77

    jrs77 Modder

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    Cray supercomputers allways looked cool. Will be interesting to follow this one, but I'd prefer to see progress with the WOPR ;)
     
  4. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    Hehe, i work on the WOPR aswell, but its mostly soldering 1400 LED´s and all cables right now, not much to show in the build log yet :)
     
  5. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    The one part where the drives go. Only one fan here.
    Primed to see where i need to make some changes...
    Its still missing the front panel that goes outside of the fan.

    Its coming along pretty nice now :)

    [​IMG]
     
  6. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    My camera light didnt start so i got to pitch the contrast in the pic. Sorry about that.

    Just a smaller "right-now" status, top part drying.
    Sanding the rounded top now and going to fiberglass it tonight to get that one done.

    Here its more easy to see where the parts from the fiberglassed pipe is going.
    Took me a great deal of time to get all angles right.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Finally burned out on soldering LEDs?:lol: It was bound to happen.
     
  8. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    Haha, still soldering some every day, but i needed to do something else for a while :)
     
  9. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    Colortesting, looks nice.
    Waiting fore some more plastic to be delivered before i can make the bottom and all parts holding the motherboard/drives.
    (front pieces on each of the three modules are missing, it will be covered)

    Hard to get correct tone into the camera. And its no matte clear on either, will make the walls first :)

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Father-Time

    Father-Time Minimodder

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    You not going to match to the original colours or just sticking to one colour?
    Shape looks really good so far, which glue are you using for the acrylic, tensol?
     
  11. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    There isnt any original colours, the buyer could choose whatever color they wanted for the order.
    Im sticking with dark gray outside as the pic, the rounded walls will be either slightly lighter or yellow. Havent decided yet :)

    Im gluing with Loctite Super Attak and after that has dried epoxy 2 component glue.

    Some different colors of the same machine.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. roundyz

    roundyz What's a Dremel?

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    subbin!
     
  13. YEHBABY

    YEHBABY RIP Tel

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    Subbed too :)
     
  14. siliconfanatic

    siliconfanatic Johny-come-Lately

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    So I take it you scaled it down :waah: was expecting a dino-case.

    Still great looking nevertheless
     
  15. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    I would love to have a Cray 916 or T94 in real size, but as for now due to space limits i have to get by with a desk model :)
     
  16. Cosmot

    Cosmot What's a Dremel?

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    I choose to leave a message here because I like it.
     
  17. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    Next step...

    Got delivery of some more plastics, my acrylic bending for the front pieces didnt work so i use 1mm styrene and glue them in layers to keep the bend, along with some heat while gluing. Probably do 3-4mm thick totally.

    The front pieces, this is the outer one.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    More coming up...
     
  18. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    Not so advanced bending rig :p

    [​IMG]

    And, three front panels done!

    [​IMG]
     
  19. coolamasta

    coolamasta Folding@Home CC Captain 2010/11/12

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    Cool project will be watching :)
     
  20. HCP

    HCP Minimodder

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    Current status, its messy due to wet sanding... But i´m gettin´ there
    Hope to have all walls there tomorrow so i can start on the drive cages and stuff to hold all components :)

    [​IMG]
     

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