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Scratch Build – In Progress Project: Shadow HTPC | (22/04) Final Photos |

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by Herodj95, 14 Mar 2015.

  1. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Hi guys,
    it's very much time that i not posting on bit-tech, so, i decided to come back with a new project.

    The project it's an HTPC for the living room. Actually i haven't already choose the component that i'm going to install into the case, but i have only few pieces that i'm going to recycle from an older rig. Those components that i'm going to re-use gonna be modified to be more silent.:thumb:

    It's gonna be inserted into a tv cabinet and the height available it's only 12cm. so i need to create a flat case to mount it into the cabinet.

    I have decided to build the structure in steel and "cover" it by wood.

    So, let's start! :D

    Step #1: Power Supply

    How i have already said, few component gonne be recycled. One of these is the power supply.
    This is an old power supply, the fan doesn't work so, it's perfect to be modded. :dremel:

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    First of all, i open the case of power supply (Warranty?? :naughty::D), and now i know why the fan doesn't work.

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    Yeah, a little bit of dust... :rolleyes:

    I have dismount all pieces of the power supply to clean them and to paint the chassis with a "Micaceous Black"

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    Meanwhile, i have received this...

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    It's gonna be a long.... very long day! :yawn:

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    I have cutted the first 24 pieces of paracord to sleeve the 24 pin

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    For each pieces i remove the tissue situated into the paracord

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    Let's go! :thumb:

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    The paracord it's very easy to fix at the cable, i have heated the end of the paracord and melted on the pin

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    After a long time... :D

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    At the end of the day i have finished the modifications on the power supply... Cleaning, painting, sleeving and changing the fan (i have mounted a new fan, but i have downvolted to 7V to be more silent)

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    The first step is finished... The next one going to be the chassis! ;)

    That's all for now.
    Bye bye!
    :rock::rock:
     
    Last edited: 22 Apr 2015
  2. Craig_T

    Craig_T What's a Dremel?

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    Looks a good mod and nice finish mate, well done
     
  3. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks! :)

    so continue with....

    Step #2: Chassis

    In this step i'm going to create the chassis where i'm going to insert all components. How i said before, the chassis it's developed in horizontal to obtain a flat result.

    The "base" it's created by some iron bars of 3mm welded together (electrode welding)

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    As you can see, i have welded other vertical bars... I'm going to use these to fix the metal sheet that going to "wrap" the base with some rivets

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    And this is the metal sheet that i have mentioned...

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    This metal sheet is very slim, only 0.8mm. I chose this kind of metal sheet because it's very easy to work. Now you can see it a little bit wavy, but when i'm going to fix it with rivets, it will be straight (... or at last i hope so :worried::D)

    See if all meausurements was correct :thumb:

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    I have do some etchings for the power supply and motherboard I/O on the back side :dremel:

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    At last, i have cutted a piece of plexyglass where i'm going to fix the motherboard and other components

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    Last try to see if all it's good :worried:

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    Not bad... At the moment the metal sheet is fixed at the structure with screws until when i need to work on it, next i finally fix with rivets.:thumb:

    So... For today, that's all.
    I wish you glad the work.

    Goodnight guys :rock:
     
  4. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Hi :D

    Let's go with...

    Step 3-4 : Wood Cover

    After creating the base of the mod i'm going to create a wood cover that will "slide" on the metal base.

    The wood "enclousure" it's created by panels of spruce wood of 18mm of thickness

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    Panels are fixed with glue and small nails

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    so, after gluing i have a solid wood enclousure, but obviusly it need some work!

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    Now i try if meausurements was correct!!

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    Slide over the wood enclousure on base

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    As you can see, the enclousure don't fit completely on the base, but there is a little "space".
    All was calculated, it's only a stylistic choose.

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    now do some meausurements, it's exactly 12cm of height! Perfect! :thumb:

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    Now i can work on this enclousure.
    I start with this piece of aluminium 3mm thick :worried:

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    On it i choose to create my logo

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    No cnc, but only drill and files

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    with some patience ...

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    Few hours later :thumb::rock:

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    Works aren't finished... The logo going to be "insert" into the front of wood enclousure

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    with a blade i draw the edge of the logo

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    and....

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    Yes, it fit!! :rock::thumb:

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    the logo protudes a little bit, but it was my choice ;)

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    Wood need more tratment with sandpaper, but until now i'm really satisfied by the result! :D:D

    I hope you like it,
    see you soon!

    Bye,
    HeroDJ
    :) :)
     
  5. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Step 5#: Fan holes and other cuts

    So, i'm back!

    After creating the wood enlousure, it's time to procede think about air flow into the case... The idea is to create 2 opening on the side for 2 80mm fans that insert some cold air into the case, and few cuts in top (over the cpu zone) for exhaust air...

    So, start to create the holes for 80mm fan on the left side

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    and now on the wood i do the holes corresponding to those created previously on metal sheet

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    (... after i'm going to do some sand paper work :thumb:)

    On top, i'm going to create the cuts for hot exhaust air on the cpu
    Start with 25mm holes

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    and with jigsaw i finish the work

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    On the back side i need to create this cut to reach the I/O ports and the power supply

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    After creating all openings on wood enclousure i'm going to do a sand paper work on cuts and holes

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    Continue....
     
  6. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Step 6#: Wood treatment and painting

    After processing with sandpaper i'm ready to proceed with a treatment with an impregnanting agent because i don't want to use any wood dye or color to cover the wood...

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    after the second coating that's the result

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    Now the wood it's definitively conclused, it's look more bright! :thumb:

    Next i have painted the base (so, frame and metal sheet) with matt black

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    When the pieces are dry, i can procede to fix the metal sheet to the frame with some rivets!

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    I have painted also the plexy sheet where i'm going to insert the motherboard and other components

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    and i have glued it to the frame

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    That's all guys.... At next step i will assemble all and try if all works! :D

    Bye bye modders,
    HeroDJ
    :rock::rock:
     
  7. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    My name is Nexxo and I approve of this mod. :thumb:

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    (yup, it's a seal of approval!)
     
  8. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    :hehe::hehe:

    Thanks Nexxo.... I also hope that the seal approve the finished work!! :D:D
     
  9. storm-83

    storm-83 Minimodder

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    Nice one, keep it up
     
  10. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks! :D
     
  11. Ocelot

    Ocelot Minimodder

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    Well done! I especially like the sleeving job and the logo you made.
     
  12. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks man! :thumb:

    Within this evening i hope to upload the assembling step photos! :)
     
  13. Waynio

    Waynio Relaxing

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    Nice. :)
     
  14. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Thank you Waynio! :D
     
  15. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Step 7#: Assembling

    Finally it's come the moment to insert all components into the case.

    The components that i'm going to install are:

    Motherboard: ASRock CM70m1
    CPU: AMD APU Dual Core C70 (1.30 GHz)
    Ram: 2x2 GB DDR3 Kingston 1333 MHz
    VGA: OnBoard AMD HD6290
    SSD: Kingston 32GB (i can't remember the serial code)
    PSU: 450w (previously modded)
    Fans: 2x Enermax T.B. Silence 80mm
    O.S.: Windows 8.1 64-bit​

    Like every HTPC, the use of this pc will be to see streaming films/listen music, this was the reason why i haven't choosed more powerful components.
    So, start with pics! :thumb:

    MoBo and Ram

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    To mount the SSD i'm going to create a plexy support to fix it at the frame. Starting from a little piece of 4mm plexy

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    next, i have do some holes to fix the ssd at the plexy support and the support at frame

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    Before installing all components into case, i do some tests to see that components works and to install the S.O

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    Finally, i'm ready to assembly the components! :D

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    At the first, i fix a metal partition between the power supply and the motherboard zone to have more cleaning into the case

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    proceed with 80mm fans...

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    ... the motherboard!

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    the SSD

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    And at last the modded power supply!! :thumb:

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    Now, all it's ready for final pics!!

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    But... You can see final pics at the next UP!

    So stay tuned!! :rock:

    Bye guys,
    HeroDJ
    :D:D
     
  16. Razarach

    Razarach Minimodder

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    Nice work. :)
     
  17. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Thank you!! :thumb::blush:
     
  18. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    Project Shadow HTPC: Final Photos

    So, here we are at the finish of the mod. I have took advantage by the nice weather to take some photos!! :rock:

    That's the photos!! :D

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    End!!

    I really hope you like it as much as me. :)

    Thanks all for the intrest showed to my work!!
    Bye,
    HeroDJ
    :clap::clap:
     
  19. Mockingbird

    Mockingbird What's a Dremel?

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    Must... Not... Make... 'Topless beach shots' joke...

    In all seriousness though, it looks really good. How does it perform (temps, noise) with the wooden cover in place?
     
  20. Herodj95

    Herodj95 What's a Dremel?

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    I was very tempted but I resisted! :D:rock:

    So, thanks Mockingbord (Em fan??)... In these days i'm going to do some tests about temperatures.
    However, about noise, i can say that the system it's very silent. I've do some setting, such as, fix the cpu fan stable at 50% (by BIOS), the fan into the power supply is undervolted to 7V and the two T.B Silence run at 12v. With this compromize all it's quiet! :D:D
     

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