Case Mod Project: PrometheusCU - Update #52 - August 31st 2009 - ...'bout time!

[Langer]

Hey guys, thanks for the kind responses and concerns.

Despite my hopes of coming back to a mailbox full of goodies, the only items that have arrived in my absence are the WiFi antennas, the 100x 3mm LEDs and the 100x LED mounts. I'll post some images of these later tonight.

Still en-route are:
30x 1"diameter x 3/4"tall copper rings.
Female serial plug
12xBlinkM RGB LEDs
Arduino Control Board
12x8oz cans of Krylon Premium Metallics Copper Brilliance Spray Paint
CoolerMaster Aquagate (for the PICO unit)
2.40mm Radiator
Copper Hex Screws
1250ft of custom designed and manufactured 18AWG ribbon wire
Mips RAM-Freezer 4 memory water block.

Yet to be shipped AquaCopmuter products:
aquaero 4.00 USB Fan-Controller
multiswitch USB 1.41
aquastream XT Temperatursensor 70 cm
Rotary elbow adapter G1/4
2x aquagraFX for GTX 280 (G200) G1/4
Durchflusssensor (FlowSensor) G1/4


I haven't yet had a chance to meet up with my machinist to see how the precision cut aluminum prototypes are coming. I've not yet even begun to manufacture anything in copper plate... this will be the last step. I want to make everything from aluminum first to ensure that all the fits are perfect; however my machinist has informed me that he has cut out several aluminum parts and that they are looking good.

Due to the hectic schedules of myself, my machinist, and my financial adviser (who wants me dead, I'm sure) coupled with MASSIVE shipping delays; I'm back to sitting around waiting for stuff to arrive.

Until I get my prototype aluminum pieces I cant start the lighting or wiring because I wont know the exact placing.

[Langer]

A small overdue update for you all.

Unfortunately my hands are still very much tied, due to many delays (mostly shipping), so progress has been minimal.

I have complete a number of little things this week however:
1- I have completed the lighting design.
2- I've modified and uploaded my verison of pfSense to my Alix board, so it's working nicely now.
3- I think I've completed my arduino lighting software, but I haven't yet got my arduino controller delivered so I don't know if it works as planned just yet.
4- I began designing my front end software that will control my watercooling and run on the from 7" touch screen.
5- I've also ordered a new keyboard, I love my apple slim keyboard but I was unable to find black key replacements for it so I've ordered the bluetooth version.
It looks to me that the new macbooks and the slim bluetooth keyboard use the same keys at least I hope so because new replacement keys were about $2.50 a piece, so I ordered a complete set of black keys for the keyboard. I'll then make new copper housing for it to replace the stock apple aluminum. In theory this should make for a very sexy black/copper keyboard.



Some of the items that have arrived in the mail since my last posting:
Some of my lighting accessories:


The 3mm LED housings that I will paint to look Copper Plated:


White 3mm LEDs:


Resistors that will let me run the LEDs from a 12volt source:


And an assembly overview of what the LED holders look like:


I also got my Laptop WIFI antennas, I will be using 2x antennas for each of the antenna outputs on the WiFi card.


Lastly, my 40.2mm radiator has arrived, so once the aquagate gets here I'll be able to assemble my Pico-ITX watercooling system.
This thing is so bloody tiny, sorry for the bad picture, but keep in mind it's only 40mm wide... too cool.

I used the mill and a frighteningly precarious claming technique to mill down the Pico's heat sink further



I decided to take some pics of my workshop, it's very dirty and the equipment is tired, but it all does the job well enough:

dropsaw

lathe

mill... strongarm style

enerpac press, and sandblaster

surface grinder


I forgot to take pics of the drillpress, but I assume you all know what those look like.

Here's the golden tool - 2.5axis router table



I decided to make an homage to Canadian modding out of some spare carbon panel I had laying around.


If the stars are aligned and my supplies arrive this week, expect HUGE progress over the next little while.

Thanks for reading, and tune in soon.

[Langer]

@TinyTomLogan - Thanks man, I responded to your query.

@yeknom - Aye, that they were but when I get my mind set on something there is no stopping it. I'm assuming, by his name, that Cheapskate would slap me.

@The boy 4rm oz - Thanks again for your support, assuming the aquagate that xtreme0915 of the SliZone forums arrive this week the Pico should be the first part to be finished.

In case anyone is still a bit confused as to my plans for the Pico I'll outline it below:

The 40.2mm radiator will be cooled by 2 of the cool air intake 40mm fans mounted in the front panel/drivebay.
The stock Pico-ITX heatsink has had a flat spot milled into it to allow me to afix the CoolerMaster Aquagate pump/block to it.
I asked xtreme0915 to send me some pics of the aquagates pump/waterblock, hopefully this will fill in the blanks:

[Langer]

@Angel OD - I'm not doing my own CNC stuff, my Machinist comes to my shop to help me ensure that the parts turn out perfect. As well as using his own equipment for some of the more complex parts. Thanks a lot for the kind words as well.

@ComputerKing - Thanks man. The LEDs arrived today! Tune in soon to see them in action.

Another parts update:

My parcel from SparkFun arrived this morning. As did my box from AquaComputer, only I won't be able to pick it up from the post office until later this evening.

So-far we have:
The BlinkM RGB LEDs


The Arduino control board




The Female serial plug that will allow me to convert the USB>Serial adapter from Male to Female.


I'll have my AquaComputer stuff tonight, so tune in then.

Thanks for reading.

[Langer]

@BlackWhizz - And they only get better:



Again many many thanks to my sponsor AquaComputer for generously providing the following:

For those of you who aren't aware of the power of the AquaComputer components. here is a small demonstration video showing the power of the AquaComputer system (aquaero display, aquastream pump, multiswitch, tubemeter water level sensor, aquasuite software).

Here you will find AquaCopmuter's explanation of the AquaComputer automated "monitoring" hardware.


Aquaero 4.00:




AquaComputer 90degree swivel elbows:


AquaComputer Flow Sensor:



Multiswitch 1.41:



And the center pieces of the system... PrometheusCU Edition G200 waterblocks. Aquacomputer was generous enough to build two of these fore this project. (Note that the Prometheus text appears 'burnt' in the images but this doesn't show up to the naked eye)







More assembly to come soon.

Thanks for reading!

[Langer]

@yeknom - Thanks very much.

@kbates666 - Thanks man, the multiswitch will control the rad fans and 5-6different lighting zones of many white LEDs. I'm sure I'll find a couple other things to throw into the mix as well.

@The boy 4rm oz - Thanks

@twentynine - Thanks man, I appreciate that.

@modsquad - Thanks a lot, AquaComputer has been very kind. Drilling out the flow sensor was the first thing I said to myself when I saw it...I don't know why they made the holes so restrictive.

@Fyve - Thanks very much! The costs are very high... I saved my pennies for over a year and spent a couple hundred hours planning this project, the total costs climbed up past $9000CAD with my latest purchase of the Mips Ram Freezer 4.

@Mankz. - My thoughts exactly, and thanks for the kind words.

[Langer]

@ShadowWings - Thanks man. This is the 5.6mm diameter version, it'll still need further drilling to maximize performance.

@Shoggy - I have not tried to clean them up yet, but I expected that to be the case. I plan on also polishing the copper a bit more on the surface, perhaps even try to give it a brushed look like the rest of the pieces (unless you would advise against this for some reason). I'd like to thank you once again for you help and support, the product are better than I could have imagined... the blocks are even sexier in real life.

[Langer]

@BlackWhizz - Thanks mate... two days later I'm still drooling over them.

@Frido - Thanks for the vote of confidence, and kind words.




Thanks again to all the readers and I'm sorry for the delays on REAL updates, but I'm depending on a lot of 3rd party people who aren't as motivated to make progress as myself.

[Langer]

The CoolerMaster Aquagate Duo generously donated by xtreme0915 of the SliZone forums has arrived today!

I will be using the Aquagate's clever little waterblock/pump assembly to cool the pico board.



Here is how the waterblock will be mounted to the Pico-ITX board. Note that I've yet to construct a proper bracket for mounting.



Here is a pic of the board next to the rad that will be cooling it.


Here's a quick glimpse of my desk right now, it's been sitting like this for about a month... I really need to pick up the pace.

[Langer]

@The boy 4rm oz - I can't recommend this board more... it's very powerful for the size and it's so damn cool.

@Mankz. & jokkos - Thanks guys, once the default pico heatsink was disassembled/milled the rest wrote itself. "Robert's your father's brother" if you will.

@Burnout21 - Although you did have a part in the process I must give cred. to Craig...

Originally Posted by craigbru

Check out picking up a Coolermaster Aquagate Viva for cheap ($30)... They have a decent little radiator, and a low profile block/pump combo.

Even more credit goes to xtreme0915 for donating the thing.

@Omen - Many thanks, stay tuned!

@FrankoTheMighty - Welcome to the forums mate... Bit-tech is the place to be for geek knowledge! Thanks a lot for the props and I'm happy I've inspired something. Ironically Craig's Rogue project inspired a number of factors on this mod, being a fellow Pico modder I followed his mod closely.

@Cheapskate -

Originally Posted by yeknom

Eek, those keys are super expensive. What would Cheapskate say to that?

Haha, that answers that question. Thanks a lot! I'm pretty sure that they'll fit... if they dont then I might cry, then I'll MAKE them fit even it means the use of a jig+glue+patience.

[Langer]

@mr-sb - Thanks very much, AquaComputer gets the credit though, they did a bang on job of bringing my vision to reality.

@RockMonster - It's always an honor to have inspired someones first post, so let me first thank you for that. Also, Welcome to the forums mate! As for my watercooling manifolds, I will be calculating the flows of each area and restricting the flow according to the needs of balance. I will be doing some slight overclocking, but it's mostly just for cooling efficiency, I don't mind the noise of fans at all... I just love the look of watercooling, and of course the benefits that go along with it. For fittings I'm using "Bitspower 1/2" HighFlow Dark Nickel Plated barbs". Mips makes quality and sexy looking gear (they've been kind enough to send me one of their "RAM Freezer 4 Nickel" units for this build, but it's not yet arrived) but if you plan on cooling the whole board I recently heard about "Watercool Heatkiller" products, which in my opinion come close to rivaling the sexy factor of AquaComputer. Here is an example pic of their products put to work. I'd still go for the aquacomputer sstuff if I were you... very low flow restriction and very efficient... not to mention sexy.




Small news update:

I've been honored with the privilege of having PrometheusCU showcased on the front page of TheBestCaseScenario!

Link

Originally Posted by TBSC

Only when athletes break records people see that it is humanly possible to reach those limits. They then start to believe and prove themselves that they can do it but it takes that 1 person to go above and beyond....

Langer, one of our newer members, showed us that you can not only make a killer rig with a stellar watercooling layout...but make even the smallest of electronics watercooled! Langer showed us what it takes to water cool a PICO-ITX board and do it with style. He deserves rep for this one folks. This is watercooled engineering at it's finest.

Go check it out and have your jawdrop. It's worth the looksie.

-Ichbin

[Langer]

@Dark~3nergy - Thanks a lot man, and by all means please do... is that not the purpose of these forums - a means of sharing knowlegde/experiences with like minded individuals.


My machinist (who is doing all my work for free BTW) called me today declaring that he will work though the night if necessary, I'll have the prototype parts cut tomorrow. It's been a crazy time for him and I can't really hold anything against him considering the predicament, also he just moved his shop to a new building at the beginning of Sept.

I have a new dilemma however.

Corsair has been kind enough to provide 8GB(4x2gb) of Dominator 1066mhz RAM with no heat spreaders attached, only they've expressed a little caveat which has me thinking.

With these MIPS Computer GmbH has been very kind and has sponsored me with a RAM Freezer 4 memory waterblock:


However since Dominator ram has additional PCB height to aid in heat dissipation:

I'm concerned that the Dominator RAM may not work with the RAM Freezer 4.

Of course I could ask Corsair to provide a RAM from the XPS series that does not have the extra height, but I'm waiting for MIPS Computer to get back to me with measurement specifications.

I've also taken delivery of a couple other aesthetic items this week, I'll have pics up tomorrow or early weekend.

Thanks for reading... and waiting... see you all soon.

[Langer]

@Modsquad - Have you considered eMailing MIPS Computer and asking them if they would ship to the US? That's what I did, in the end they ended up hooking me up with the RAM Freezer 4 Nickel. As for the other items... soon, very soon.

@The Boy 4m Oz - Thanks a lot mate. I can't wait for the cooler to arrive, I'm going to try and fabricate a copper top piece, and loose the nickel.

[Langer]

@KaotiK - lol, he was actually the 2nd person I contacted. Right after firing an email off to Mips Computer engineering department.

[Langer]

Dark~3nergy - Thanks mate!

Sorry for the delays folks, but my metal is still not cut (don't get me started... I'm pissed) and until it's installed I cant really do a whole lot else.

I decided to try my hand at fabricating panels from my fabric. These were soaked in resin and pressed at an obesene pressure of several thousand tonnes.

You don't get this look from carbon decal!




The next one is the closest thing to a definition of "indestructible" as you'll ever find. I don't know how many layers there are in this - but it's about a 1/2" thick. It will be used for a few structural components.




I've also got a few yards of copper mesh, I have a few plans for this stuff it looks really cool when wrapped tightly around wires and cables.



Another generous donated product courtesy of Mach over at TheBestCaseScanario's forums. Some braided copper sleeve.


Lastly we've got 100' of 18gage copper flat wire to be wrapped around the black tubing for aesthetic reasons.



Also the metallic copper paint I ordered on July 27th is still not even shipped yet which is holding up some of my smaller mods.

I'm just playing the waiting game from now until when my metal is cut. I've done a few little things like lapping my GPU's and CPU, other than that noting big.

[Langer]

@craigbru - As always, many thanks kind sir. I just sent you off an email response .

@The boy 4rm oz - Many plans... all will be revealed to those who wait =).

@modsquad - Thanks mate, copperhead is looking good btw!

@ThaNerd - The copper mesh will be used many places, I even plan on sewing it together to make cable sleeves. As for cutting the panels, I do my work in the evenings at a Carbon Fiber manufacturing plant - they have all the necessary tools at my disposal.

@Dark~3nergy - The uber panel of carbon was home made (sort of)... in the after hours of at a carbon fiber manufacturing plant. I copied the design protocols for a military project. The traditional application for this material is armour plating for a US military application - the specifics are *and I've waited my whole life to say this in literal context* top secret.... ooh yeah, that felt good. It is essentially about 12 'rigid' carbon panels pressed and heated together at 600 tonnes.

@Frido - It would work well for that considering that it is rated extremely high in ballistics deflection, and radar absorption. I get the carbon materials from my old man, who runs one of the worlds larger CF manufacturing companies. On another note I think your referring to: "All good things come to those who wait" or perhaps "Patience is a virtue"? The copper stuff comes from ebay and around the web - much hunting, browsing, and digging.

[Langer]

@tonschk - Thanks a lot mate, I appreciate that. It is a labor of love... it has to be.

@overdosedelusion - $9849.63USD so-far, including shipping costs. I estimate hours to be somewhere between 500-600hrs, maybe more. That includes everything from milling machine bits, to LEDS, to metal, to hardware, I even designed my own wire that ITW-Pancon will be manufacturing for me one of these days.

[Langer]

Hello again mates, I'm still alive.

Despite all my effort of finding a new (not so free) machinist source in my general location... NO-ONE wants to work with copper.

New plan - over the past couple weeks I've taught myself how to use machine-code and with it my router to it's full potential. I've dedicated a few days early next week to put my new found knowledge to it's test. Screw the machinist plan, I'm going to do this myself I can't wait any longer.

For those of you who have been reading... you may remember my desires for a Grand National earlier. Well I've got one now, it hasn't yet been delivered but it's on the truck right now on it's way from Florida.

Here is the very car I purchased:


She sports over 500HP and rocks low 11s in the 1/4 mile. (More details once its delivered)

Here it is being loaded for delivery... I CANT WAIT FOR IT TO GET HERE!






More to come... hopefully more relevant things... and hopefully soon.

Thanks for reading.

[Langer]

Muahaha!

Here is a video made by the man that sold me this car... hes a walking quadriplegic and is an incredibly kind man.









below you'll note the hand controls put in place my the previous owner (these were removed before I got the car)

Stock GN rims that have been widened to accommodate super wide racing slicks.



79,000 on car and 15,000 on Rebuild.
Stage 2 2004r Transmission with 9.5 3500 Stall converter and Trans. Brake (less than 500 miles on all transmission parts) Holds up to 850 foot pounds of torque
Line Lock
TA-52 Turbo
Giant Gbodyparts.com Front Mount Intercooler 3” inlet and outlet
3 inch Down Pipe
Headers
Rear Sway Bar
Alky Control Methanol Injection (Progressive Control)
Scan Master
Bored .30 over
TRW Forged Pistons
Ported and Polish heads with ARP studs
New valve job
RJC complete under-drive pulley system
Ported Throttle Body
Ported Aluminum Intake
Big Mouth Intake
42lbs OO9 injectors with high volume fuel pump and hot wire kit.
Turbo Tweak 93/Alcohol chip (adjustable features)
LT1 MAF with translator
Duel Rear airbags
Boxed upper and lower control arms
Drag Radial rear, tires New front tires
Converted Upgraded New S-10 Brakes
Resurfaced Original wheels with the back wheels widened
Electric exhaust cutout
2.5 Hooker Exhaust
New paint in 2006
New AC in 2006
Engine has lots of chrome
Custom trunk kit

[Langer]

SOME RELEVANT NEWS!


I've got Watercool Germany on-board now. They've generously offered to provide some waterblocks from their new 'Heatkiller' V3.0 lineup coming at the end of October. With this addition I'll be removing the D-Tek Fuzion and perhaps cooling the motherboard as well.... which calls for another Aquastream XT pump IMO.

I'm very very excited about this - I have to give some credit to ModSquad as I've never heard of the Watercool Heatkiller before he posted the image of one of their blocks in his CopperHead mod. Suffice to say I fell in love and had to have them.

For those of you not familiar with the HeatKiller blocks, here's a tase:







More to come, thanks for reading.