Case Mod - In Progress Project : Not Another Stacker.

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by Grifter, 14 Oct 2007.

  1. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Loes all,

    So firstly excuse the log name , after the drain on my imagination which has been this mod , i just had nothing left to come up with a better name.
    For a bit of background , i started this mod when i had to give up one of my PC's as an act of brotherly love ( or family blackmail ).
    As such i felt my remaining machine should be something to be proud of , plus this was something i have always wanted to do.


    There you have it the background in brief....arent you glad your reading this.

    I have done a bit of work as i post this thread but i figure it will make a better read if i have something to put in my log to start with , it is of this moment still some way from being done.

    So for the one or two people who have been in a cave for like years here is a piccy of my bog standard stacker before it got turned into a thing of joy ....or fubar'ed depending of your view of my work :naughty:

    [​IMG]
    Ignore the time/date on that photo , i was using the work camera and i cant for the life of me set it or get rid of it :sigh:

    My first move was to purchase some bits for the cooling system , and it was at this point i was introduced to the project log.
    A dude called Coolmiester showed me some of his logs on his site and introduced me to a few others that mod on a regular basis. And it was those guys at coolercases that suggested i post here to get some extra feedback and ideas.

    Once i had got my watercooling kit it gave me the list of basic mods to the case to allow me to fit the stuff in , which basically means stretching the case by 60 mm.

    So i stripped the case down and replaced the top and bottom plates with Fibrelam, dunno if you dudes have used it before but its a fibreglass and ali honeycomb sandwich.
    Strong , light and flat which fitted the bill nicely for the job in hand.


    [​IMG]

    Add some rivets and a couple of right angle brackets made of 2mm ali and the bare bones of the case is assembled.


    [​IMG]
    This pic makes the top look so bent...but it isnt i promise.
    [​IMG]
    Another piece of ali to take up the gap between the M/board tray and the drive tower.
     
  2. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    The next step was to clad the frame to make the body of the mod.
    I was able to use some ureol for this again just in case no one has used this before its a polyurethane modeling board.
    Machines well , takes paint well etc. Yet still is fairly light and strong.
    So it was just a case of fitting the strips of board to the frame.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I wanted to be able to remove the outer casing for the time being for a few reasons , to allow me to work on it in sections and to make the end process of painting as easy as possible.
    For all its uses this particular board dosent take a thread very well at all , So i used threaded inserts in the ureol so i could attach the strips with some M3 cap heads.


    [​IMG]
    There we are all cladded up , abit rough at the mo but none the less together.
     
  3. sik19

    sik19 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    2 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    123
    Likes Received:
    0
    hmmm this looks pretty interesting, even if its only another Steacker ;). Hope to see sth. good. Ah and welcome on Bit-Tech!
     
  4. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    It was a little while before i was able to get on with anything , main problem i have is i do my modding at work but when its busy the bosses tend to frown on me playing with a comp case and doing very little else.
    However after a week or so i started work on the side panels and the top.
    It was a fairly straight forward plan Fibrelam for the side panels and put a nice curve and an integral air outlet on the top.


    [​IMG]
    I ran a rebate around the whole in the case to give me a nice lip for the side panel to sit against and at the same time this gave me some nice rads in the corners.

    [​IMG]
    A nice close up of the air scoop in the top.

    [​IMG]
    Still a bit square edge'd and flat but you get the general idea.

    I still wanted to build the case out a little more and always intended to use more of the ureol but i had to go with MDF as we were waitng on a delivery of board for the suppliers.
    [​IMG]
    I started on the side panels using the MDF and leaving a lower level shape in the side that will take the case window and hopefully run from one side to the other.
    [​IMG]
    Then i brought the case sides in line with the side panels , of course at this point it still looks very square.

    [​IMG]
    I ran a router around the outer edges to give me a nice constant rad , and slightly rounded the front to try and get shot of the square looking block i had created.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    I also took the router to the outside of the side panel to make more of a feature of the split line betwen the two parts there.
     
  5. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for the welcome dude , i will try to deliver the goods *crosses fingers*
     
  6. coolmiester

    coolmiester Coolermaster Legend

    Joined:
    31 Dec 2002
    Posts:
    2,087
    Likes Received:
    59
    I've said it before and i'll say it again Grifter..............this has got to be one of the best designed cases i've seen bar none.

    The simplicity of the lines is just killer and so easy on the eye its incredible so my only input would be don't over work it.

    I can't wait to see what its like with a real nice automotive finish paint job and plenty clear coat do give it loads of depth.

    Well deserved ***** from me bud :cooldude:
     
  7. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    It was at this point i hit a problem.
    One of the dudes at Coolercases pointed out to me that my case had more than a hint of TJ07 about it:jawdrop:

    I was of course horrified....and of course he was absolutley right :wallbash:

    So i had to have a rethink about the top to try and get away from it , in the mean time i had made a start on really shaping up the front of the case.
    [​IMG]

    So this was my idea for my coolant rez's , two may seem a little over the top but they looked so much better than one.

    [​IMG]
    And here is a closer shot.

    [​IMG]
    I had also made a start on changing the top to give it a non-TJ07 feel.
     
  8. Cyprio

    Cyprio G5 Supermodder

    Joined:
    2 May 2006
    Posts:
    547
    Likes Received:
    0
    Very nice design mate and i like the use of new materials. How easy are they to get hold of?

    5 * from me! :)

    Cyp.
     
  9. wbdog206

    wbdog206 not me

    Joined:
    15 Jan 2007
    Posts:
    442
    Likes Received:
    1
    looks like a good start.
     
  10. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    So after my attempted rework of the top area of the case i realized it looked sh*te , so back to coming up with another plan.
    If its one thing can agree with its 'have a plan' it took me ages to move forward from where i was.
    Move on i did and this is where i ended up.

    First of all i increased the size or the rad on the outer edges on the case which i think has given it a far less square feel
    [​IMG]

    Then i cut the air inlet for the rad in the side.

    [​IMG]
    Ok this is my first question for you the Bit-tech dudes.....should i make an outline of the rad air inlet on the opposite side of the case ?
    Just for the sake of symmetry and to break up the space with nothing going on.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    Heres a couple more shots at different angles so ye can have a good look.
     
  11. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Here are some closer piccys of the new air outlets in the top of the case.
    This is absolutley the last time i reshape the top , i am always open to peoples criticism and ideas however if i carry on fiddling with the damn top the case will never get finished^^.

    These first two pics are of the new side outlets.I made a master again out of Ureol and then made a quick tool and cast two parts out of it.

    [​IMG]

    Thats why its a kinda creamy white colour.

    [​IMG]

    For those that are interested i used a product called rencast to make the vent covers , its just a quick reaction two part P.U casting resin.
    [​IMG]


    And here is a closer shot of the front air outlet as i only needed one of these i just made it out of the modeling board
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok well thats it ...up to date still a way off being finished but a start non the less.
    Any input is more than welcome and any questions asked i will try to answer , and i will update as soon as i've done some more to it.:)
     
  13. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    @ CM - thanks dude

    @ Cyprio - the Ureol is fairly easy to get hold of but not what i would call cheap , for a board 1500x500x50mm it will cost around £150. If you want more info on the particular board i can pass some on to you and places to buy it.The fibrelam is quite expensive i think its like £300 a board which will be something like 8'x4' again i can get ordering details if you want.
     
    Last edited: 14 Oct 2007
  14. wbdog206

    wbdog206 not me

    Joined:
    15 Jan 2007
    Posts:
    442
    Likes Received:
    1
    man it's looking great.
    definitely not just another stacker.
     
  15. Grifter

    Grifter What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks dude : )
     
  16. Spaceraver

    Spaceraver Ultralurker

    Joined:
    19 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    1,363
    Likes Received:
    5
    ooh, subscribed and some * from me
     
  17. Cyprio

    Cyprio G5 Supermodder

    Joined:
    2 May 2006
    Posts:
    547
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'd love some more info Grifter, esp. how you made the moulds. PM me if you like rather than adding to your project log.

    Cheers,

    Cyp.
     
  18. Duste

    Duste Sierra my delta, bravo!

    Joined:
    1 Oct 2006
    Posts:
    818
    Likes Received:
    0
    Holy... O_O

    This is actually insane. You're not going to leave it as this modeling board stuff, are you? Fibreglass?
     
  19. thermalnightmare47

    thermalnightmare47 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    18 Sep 2006
    Posts:
    71
    Likes Received:
    1
    most definitely not another stacker. looking awesome I'm loving the design of this case so far. Darn you and all you other guys now I want to get me a stacker....
     
  20. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

    Joined:
    13 May 2007
    Posts:
    12,579
    Likes Received:
    2,105
    Friggen fantastic case design! The rounded edges make it look like you could use it as a cushion.
    I say go for symmetry and add the implied rad hole. Chances are you may want to put another radiator in there later anyway.

    The only thing I have against this build is the original case you cut up. Judging by your level of skill you really didn't need it. You could have done the entire rig from scratch. (Sorry, I just hate the sheet metal in those things...)

    -also: Make a big custom power button!
     
Tags:

Share This Page